HISTORY 



TOWN OF MEDFORD, 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, 



jTrom its jFirst .Settlement in 1630 to 1833. 



CHARLES BROOKS. 



ISebiseti, lEnlarrjeU, anlj Brourjljt TSa^iin ia 1885, 

BY 

JAMES M. USHER. 



BOSTON : 

RAND, AVERY, & COMPANY. 

2CIje JFrankli'n |3rcss. 

i886. 



4/?98 

Copyright, 18S5, 
By JAMES M. USHER. 




PREFACE. 



The announcement on the titlepage of this vohime is a sufifi- 
cient statement of the fact that it is based on the earher work 
of Mr. Brooks ; and, indeed, no complete history of Medford can 
be written which does not largely embody the material collected 
by him. Medford had no early annalist. The sources from which 
the account of its settlement must be made up are scanty and ob- 
scure ; and such imperfect information as exists must be collected 
from widely scattered records. Mr. Brooks had devoted many 
years of his life to the task of compiling his materials. He was, 
moreover, an enthusiastic and painstaking antiquarian, who had 
inherited from his ancestors, among the first settlers of the town, 
a fund of traditional lore. If, then, the present volume throws 
litde new light upon the early history of the town, it is because 
his research was so thorough and exhaustive that he left but a 
barren field of labor to his successors. 

But the labors of Mr. Brooks as an historian ended with the 
publication of his volume, thirty-one years ago. Much has hap- 
pened since that date, which deserves a permanent record ; and 
much of the detail of our later municipal life will be lost, if diose 
who have lived through it "die, and make no sign." 

It so happened that I was the publisher of the original History ; 
and, as a native and resident of Medford, I felt more than a pub- 
lisher's interest in that work. It has long been my wish to see 
the annals of the town brought down to current date. In despair 
of seeing the work taken up by more competent hands, I have, 
for several years, devoted the time I could spare from other 
labors to the collection of facts and information touching the 
later history of the town, with a view to supplementing Mr. 
Brooks's work. 

In the performance of my task, and in the effort to fuse my 
materials with those of Mr. Brooks, I have found it necessary to 
make some changes in the arrangement of the contents of the 
original volume ; to suppress some of its more unimportant de- 
tails ; and, for one reason or another, to make occasional altera- 
tions in the text. It has been my aim, however, as far as possible, 
to preserve Mr. Brooks's text, — especially to respect that some- 
times quaint, and often racy, phraseology, characteristic of the 
writer. 



4 PREFACE. 

In collecting the facts of contemporaneous history, the com- 
piler has consU\ntly to be on his guard against the intrusion of 
matter of merely ephemeral interest ; and, in the abundance of 
more deserving topics, there is a call for selection and conden- 
sation, which holds the ambitious chronicler under a somewhat 
painful constraint. I cannot hope that I have always coped suc-^ 
cessfully with these difficulties, and can only say that I have done^ 
my best. Many subjects which had been carefully written out 
have been omitted from the volume, and this effort to keep 
down its size has been attended with some sacrifice. 

An apology is due to subscribers for the , delay w-hich has 
occurred in the publication of this volume. I have to plead 
in excuse, that I have found it necessary to deal with a greater 
variety of topics than had entered into my original design, and 
that consetiuently the work has been continually growing upon 
my hands. The collection and verification of facts is at best a 
tedious process : and, in the effort to bring the history '* up to 
present date," I have had to fight against time ; for, even while 
I have been compiling, events of local interest were occurring, 
which not only called for record, but frequently for the recast- 
ing of pages already written. The lapse of time necessarily 
makes history. It is hoped, however, that the delay due to 
these and other causes, has inured to the advantage of the 
work : it has certainly entailed upon the editor much addi- 
tional labor and expense. 

I have reason to be grateful for the encouragement I have 
received during the prosecution of my task. My applications 
for information have always been courteously responded to, — 
in many cases by strangers, on w^hom I had no claim. My 
warmest thanks are due to friends for their assistance and coun- 
sel ; and I am especially indebted to Mr. Charles Cummmgs, 
Thomas S. Harlow, Esq., and Parker R. Litchfield, Esq., who 
have greatly aided me in my work, and to Mrs. George L. Stearns 
for a sketch of her husband's life. I wish also to make my ac- 
knowledgments to the Library Committee for their kindness and 
courtesy. There is one other friend who has followed me care- 
fully through my labors, and to whom 1 am under the greatest 
obligations for suggestions and practical help ; but I respect his 
wishes in making no mention of his name. 

To the town of Medford, in its corporate capacity, I return 
my heartfelt thanks for the substantial aid it has given to my 
undertaking. Loving Medford as I do, I shall be proud and 
happy if it shall be tleemed that I have, in my declining years, 
done any thing to convey to the coming generations of her 
children a better knowledge of an important and honorable 
period of her municipal life. 

JAMES .M. USHER. 



PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL HISTORY. 



In writing this History, it has been my wish to secure Mcdford such territory 
in time as its acres are territory in space. The gathering of these annals has 
been too long delayed. Time, moth, and rust have done their fatal work on 
many valuable materials ; and some gentlemen, who felt a deep interest in 
their native town, have died without leaving any manuscript testimonies. 
When the history of New England shall be written, the true data will be 
drawn from the records of its towns. Now, therefore, in humble imitation 
of those States in our Union which have contributed each its block of gran- 
ite, marble, or copper to the National Monument at Washington, I ask leave 
to offer Medford's historical contribution to the undecaying pyramidic mon- 
ument which justice and genius will hereafter raise to the character and in- 
stitutions of New England. 

The records of the first forty years are lost. I have reproduced them, as 
far as I could, from documents in the General Court relating to our earliest 
history; from several monuments of the first settlers, which are yet standing 
among us; from authentic traditions which were early recorded; and from 
collateral histories of the neighboring towns. To find the lost, and remem- 
ber the forgotten, seems to be the province of the local annalist. From the 
moment I reached the first town-records of Medford {1674), I implicitly fol- 
lowed those exceyent guides. Where I could save space by abbreviations, 
without altering the sense, I have occasionally done so in my quotations, and 
have used our modern orthography. The spirit of antiquarian research, now 
beginning to show itself, will lead to the discovery of many facts concerning 
the early history of Medford which are beyond my reach. These may soon 
render necessary a new history of the town ; and I hope it may be under- 
taken by a person whose ability and leisure will enable him to do far greater 
justice to the subject than has been within my power. 

There are no foot-notes in this volume. My reason for incorporating such 
matter with the te.xt is this : whenever notes are printed at the bottom of a 
page, it is expected they will be read in at the place where the asterisk in the 
text directs. If the note is put there to be read in there, why not put it into 
the text at that place, and thus save the eye the trouble of wandering down 
to the bottom of the page to hunt up the note, and then wandering back 
again to find the spot whence it started on its search? If the new mode I 
have adopted should prove inconvenient to readers, they must so declare 
against it that no writer will follow the example. 

I have received great help from the Massachusetts Colony Records; and 

S 



6 PRE FACE. 

Dr. N. P. Siiurti.f.fk's beautiful edition of them is a noble monument to a 
faithful student and i)ublic benefactor. I have also gathered much from the 
Historical Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, — from Win- 
throp, Hutchinson, Wood, and other early writers; and especially from the 
registries of Deeds and Probate. Mr. Frothi.ngham's " History of Charles- 
town" is invaluable. I have obtained less information from old manuscripts 
in Mcdford than I expected. Many such important papers, long since col- 
lected here, have been irrevocably scattered. I have received aid from 
C.\LKB Swan, Esq., of New York; from Mr. Joseph P. Hall, the accurate 
town-clerk; from Rev. Samuel Sewall, Mr. W. B. Shedd, and several 
other friends. To each and all I would here offer my sincere thanks. To 
Messrs. \Villl\m Tufts, of Boston, George VV. Porter and Peter C. 
Hall, of Medford, I owe special acknowledgments for their examination of 
my proof-sheets. The Register of Families has been prepared by my young 
friend, Mr. William H. Whitmore, of Boston. With the patience that 
belongs to older scholars, with an accuracy that belongs to a true lover of 
genealogical inquiry, and with a generosity that issues from a Christian heart, 
he has devoted himself to these researches; and every family mentioned in 
the Register owes him a debt of gratitude. Collegisse jitvat. 

By means of printed circulars and public addresses in 1853, '54, and '55, I 
gave very urgent invitations to all the living descendants of our ancestors, 
and to all the present inhabitants of Medford, to furnish me with genealogi- 
cal registers of their families, promising to insert all they might send. Many 
have complied with these requests, and many have not. I regret exceedingly 
that families, who alone possess the requisite information, should have with- 
held it. It is a serious loss to our history, and may hereafter be regretted by 
themselves. In this respect, the history of a town is apt to disappoint every- 
body. These registers of early families in New England will contain the only 
authentic records of the true Anglo-Saxon blood existing among us ; for, if 
foreign immigration should pour in upon us for the next fifty years as it has 
for the last thirty, it will become difficult for any man to prove that he has 
descended from the Plymouth Pilgrims. 

I have introduced much collateral history, as illustrative of local laws, 
ideas, and customs. The true history of a town is nearly an epitome of that 
of the State. It is not a single portrait, but a full-length figure amidst a 
group, having the closest relations to all contemporary life, and to all sur- 
rounding objects. To neglect these accessory circumstances and illustrations, 
is to leave all life out of historic details, and convert history into a wide, 
silent field of graves, ruins, and darkness. I have spared no jjains or expense 
in collecting materials for this work; but my chief solicitude has been con- 
cerning its accuracy. In no case have I recorded a fact, or drawn an infer- 
ence, without having satisfactory historical evidence of its truth. If my 
labors shall help to fix Medford in the elevated rank it now holds in the 
State, and shall stimulate future generations to deserve and attain a higher, 
my proudest hopes will be realized. That peace may for ever be loithin its 
liialh, and prosperity within its palaces, is the fervent prayer of its humble 
friend, 

CHARLES BROOKS, 



CONTENTS. 



[For Alphabetical Index of N^ames and Topics, see End of the Volume^ 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGES 

Name and Location. — Boundaries. — Ponds. — Mystic River. 

— Brooks. — Hills. — Climate. — Soil and Productions. 

— Natural History 13-38 

CHAPTER n. 

Medford Records. — First Settlement. — Mathew Cradock. 

— Land and Landowners. — Ancient Landmarks and Mon- 
uments 39-63 

CHAPTER IH. 
Roads. — Railroads. — Bridges. — Indians 64-99 

CHAPTER IV. 

Civil History. — Territorial Grants. — Municipal Organiza- 
tion. — Enlargement of Territory. — Town Meetings. — 
Medford a Town from the Time of its Settlement. — 
Causes of New-England Prosperity. — Lists of Town 
Officers. — Gov. John Brooks. — Col. Isaac Royal . . 100-154 

CHAPTER V. 

Political History. — Patriotic Stand taken during the 
Revolution. — Action on State Constitution. — Votes in 
First State Elections 155-172 

CHAPTER VL 

Military History. — Early Military Organization. — Med- 
ford Officers in the Revolution. — War of 1812. — 
Militia. — [Old] Medford Light Infantry. — Brooks Pha- 
lanx. — Lawrence Light Guard 173-198 

7 



8 COA'/ViX/'S. 

CHATTER vrr. 

r.\c;ns 
Military History, continuf.d. — Medfokd Licht Infantry. — 

MeDFDRD VOLUNTEliRS IN VARIOUS OkC.AN IZATIONS DURING 

THE Civil War. — Prison and Hospital Experiences.— 
Home Work of the War. — Death Record of Medford 
Soldiers. — Lawrence Rifles 199-212 

CHAPTER Vni. 

Roll of Medford Men \vho served in the Union Army dur- 
ing THE Rebellion 213-219 

CHAPTER IX. 

Ecclesiastical History. — Early Ministers. — Rev. Aaron 

Porter. — Rev. Ebenezer Turell. — Rev. David Osgood, 220-246 

CHAPTER X. 

Ecclesiastical IIistory, continued. — First Parish. — Second 
Congregational Society. — Mystic Church. — Universalist 
Society. — Methodist-Episcopal Church. — First Baptist 
Church. — Grace (Episcopal) Church. — Congregational 
Church, West Medford. — Trinity Methodist-Episcopal 
Society of West Medford. — Catholic Church . . . 247-279 

* CHAPTER XI. 

Education. — Public Schools. — List of Teachers. — List of 

School Com.mittees. — Academies. — College Graduates, 2S0-301 

CHAPTER XIL 
Public Libraries 302-308 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Tufts College 309-318 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Charities. — Physicians. — Lawyers. — Authors. — Public 

Characters ^19-326 

CHAPTER XV. 

Fire-department. — Board of Health. — Water-supply. — 
Burving-grounds. — Great Tornado. — Fires. — Pounds. 
Local Diseases 327--" 48 



COXTEA'TS. 9 

CHAPTER XVT. 

PAGES 

Crimes and Punmshments. — Si.avkry. — Palu'erism. — Alms- 
houses 349-362 



CHAPTER XVn. 
Taxes. — Lists of Early Tax-payers. — Currency .... 363-381 

CHAPTER XVHI. 
Middlesex Canal. — Lightering. — Mills. — Taverns . . . 3S2-390 

CPIAPTER XIX. 

Public P>uiLniNGS. — First, Second, and Third Meeting- 
houses. — SCHOOLHOUSES. — ToWN HaLL 39I-408 

CHAPTER XX. 

Trade and Manufactures. — Fisheries. — .Ship-huilding. — 
Brick-making. — Distilleries. — Other Industries. — 
Stage-coaches. — Newspapers. — Medford Savings Bank, 409-441 

CHAPTER XXL 
Societies and Associ.atio.ns 442-447 

CHAPTER XXIL 
Biographical Notices 44S-48S 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Historical and Local Items. — Middlesex Fells. — Gov- 
ernors of Massachusetts 4S9-512 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Post-offices. — Population. — Tahles of Annual Expenditures 

and Valuations 513-518 

REGISTER OF FAMILIES 519-587 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Medford Square 

Charles Brooks 

Cradock House 

Garrison House on Pasture Hill Lane 

Summer House, Royal Farm 

Boston and Lowell Railroad Station, 1851 . 
Boston and Lowell Railroad Station, 1SS5 . 
Boston and Maine Railroad Station, 1S47 . 
Boston and Maine Railroad Station, 1SS6 . 

Cradock Bridge 

James M. Usher 

Residence of Thatcher Magoun, 2D 

Residence of George L. Stearns 

Old Swan House, High Street 

judah loring 

Gov. John Brooks 

Gov. Brooks's Birthplace 

Residence of Gov. Brooks 

Royal House 

Old Tufts House, Public Square. (Removed in 1S67) . 

Facsimile of Tax-bill, 1772 

Facsimile of Receipt for Money paid for Service in 

Continental Army 

Facsimile of Oath of Allegiance, 177S . . . . 
Residence of Capt. Joshua T. Foster . . . . 

Soldiers' Monument 

Rev. Ebenezer Turell 

Rev. David Osgood 

Unitarian Church 

Mystic Church 

Universalist Church, 1850 

Methodist-Episcopal Church 

Baptist Church 

Grace Church 



PAGE 

Frontispiece. 
Facing 39 
60 
62 
63 
70 



Facinj^ 

7- 
74 
76 
86 
89 
90 

ICO 

ii6 
128 
^Tj 
136 
142 
146 

155 
15S 

164 
166 
1S4 
219 
Facing 246 
247 

=55 
26S 

269 



13 



IJST OF ILLUSTRATIOXS. 



MedI' 



Tufts C 



Wkst-Mf.dkori) Congregational Church 

Catholic CiruRcn . 

Trinity Methodist-Ei'iscopal Church, W 

Charles Cummings 

Public Lihrary 

Thatcher Magoun, 2V> 

TriTs College, 1855 

IIoSEA BaLLOU, 2D, D.D 

'1"homas a. C.oddard 

The Barnum Museum of Natural History 

GoDDARD Chapel, Tufts College 

Dudley Hall . 

Maria Gowen Brooks 

Engine-House . 

Stocks and Pillory 

Lydia Maria Child 

Facsimile of Tax-bill, 1796 . 

Facsimile of Continental Money 

Fountain House 

Medford House, 1S25 

First Church . 

Second Church 

Third Church 

Old Brick Schoolhouse 

High-school House 

Brooks Schoolhouse 

Residence of J. Henry Norcross 

Ocean Express 

Thatcher Magoun, ist 

Launch on the Mystic 

Withington's ]!akery 

Residence of Henry H 

Charles Brooks 

P'acsimile of Chaplain's Warrant, 1777 

Facsimile of Certificate 

Peter C. Brooks, 2d 

George L. Stearns 

John T. White 

Joshua T. Foster . 

Facsimile of an Acknowledgment of Purchase of 

Slaves .... 
Facsimile of Receipt 
Gen. John Brooks 
Jonathan Brooks's Homestead 



PAGE 

Facing 276 
279 
281 
" 291 
302 
305 
309 
312 

314 
.lege 316 

'I 3IS 

322 
3-6 

351 

Facing 357 

372 

" 378 

" 3S8 

390 

391 
395 
400 

Facing 404 
405 
407 

Facing 414 
421 

4:^3 
427 

" 436 

441 

" 44S 

451 
451 

" 453 
459 
477 

" 488 

Facing 49S 

500 

" 5" 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



CHAPTER I. 

LOCATION AND NAME. 



Medford, a town in Middlesex County, is about five 
miles north-north-west from Boston, and four miles north- 
west by north from Bunker-Hill Monument. Its adjoin- 
ing towns at this date (1884) ^re Somerville, Arlington, 
Winchester, Stoneham, Melrose, Maiden, and Everett. 

In June, 1630, some adventurers, who landed at Salem 
in the month of May, arrived here, and began a settle- 
ment on the north-west side of the river now known as 
the Mystic. The richness and extent of the marshes, re- 
sembling vast meads or meadows, must have invited their 
special attention ; and many have supposed that the name 
Meadford, first given to the place, was suggested by its 
resemblance to open fields, or great meadows, in their 
native land. 

However that may have been, records of the Massachu- 
setts Colony, made as early as 1641, show that the place 
was called Meadford in certain legal documents, also Mead- 
fourd, and Metford. Since 171 5 it has uniformly been 
called Medford ; not as a nev/ christening, but as a cor- 
ruption of the original name, caused, possibly, by the bad 
spelling from which it suffered, or by our general tendency 
to shorten words. The names of many towns in Massa- 
chusetts were changed in that way, and some of them 
much more radically than in this instance. 

During the first ten years after its settlement this town 
was surrounded by territory that belonged to Charlestown, 
and its boundaries were changed and greatly enlarged dur- 

J3 



14 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

ing its next ten decades, as the ancient town and colonial 
records show. The following items from such records will 
enable the reader to obtain a tolerably correct idea of the 
township as it was at first, and of the changes which deter- 
mined its present boundaries. 

At a court held in Boston April i, 1634, this record was 
made : — 

"There is two Inindrecl acres of land granted to Mr. Increase 
NowcU, lyincc and bcinj; on tlie west side of North River, called 
Three-mile Brook [Maiden River]. There is two hundred acres of 
land granted to Mr. John Wilson, pastor of the church in Boston, 
lying next to the lantl granted to Mr. Nowell, on the south, and next 
to Meadlord on tlie north." 

Here the original bound of Medford on the north-cast 
is shown with sufficient accuracy ; and by this record we 
learn that the town-line at first did not come down to the 
Maiden River, as it now does. 

The north and north-western bounds were the " Rocks," 
that range of granite hills of which Pine Hill forms a 
part. The line ran north of Symmes's Corner, and struck 
Symmes's River. The Pond and Mystic River formed the 
southern and western boundaries. 

The farm of Mr. Cradock formed a portion of the east- 
ern part of Medford, and was very large, as the following 
record shows : — 

" General Court, holden at Newtown, March 4, 1634: All the grounds, 
as well upland as meadow, lying and being betwixt the land of Mr. 
Nowell and Mr. Wilson on the east (and the partition betwixt Mvstick 
bounds on the west), bounded with Mistick River on the south, and 
the Rocks on the north, is granted to Mr. Mathew Cradock, merchant, 
to enjoy to him and his heirs forever." 

The next year the General Court "ordered" that this 
land of Mr. Cradock should "extend a mile into the coun- 
try from the riverside, in all places." As Medford was in 
the midst of territory which at first belonged to Charles- 
town, there was for some years some confusion in regard 
to boundary lines ; and from time to time the General 
Court made orders in regard to it, among which were the 
following: — 

"General Court, July 2, 1633: It is ordered that the ground Iving 
betwixt tlie North River and the Creek on the north side of 'Mr. 
Maverick's, and so up into the country, shall belong to the inhabitants 
of Charleslown." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 15 

"General Court, March 3, 1636: Ordered, That Charlestown bounds 
shall run eight miles into the country from their meeting-house, if no 
other bounds intercept, reserving the propriety of farms granted to 
John Winthrop, Esq., Mr. Nowell. Mr. Cradock, and Mr. Wilson, 
to the owners thereof, as also free ingress and egress for the servants 
and cattle of the said gentlemen, and common for their cattle on the 
back side of Mr. Cradock's farm." 

"General Court, Oct. 7, 1640: Mr. Tynge, Mr. Samuel Sheephard, 
and Goodman Edward Converse, are to set out the bounds between 
Charlestown and Mr. Cradock's farm on the north side of Mistick 
River." 

But, while these orders were made with reference to 
certain parts of the boundary Hnes, other parts had not 
been marked with sufficient accuracy, and, in 1687, the in- 
habitants of Medford appointed three gentlemen, who, in 
conjunction with three appointed by Charlestown, were 
directed to fix the boundaries between the two towns. 

They performed the work in due time, and the reader 
will" be greatly amused at their report, which shows how 
rudely their work was done, and how soon the metes and 
bounds which they fixed must have been undistinguish- 
able. Their report, as shown by the Town Records, is as 
follows : — 

" We have settled and marked both stakes and lots as followeth : 
From the creek in the salt-marsh by a ditch below Wilson's farm and 
Medford farm to a stake and heap of stones out of the swamp, then 
turning to a savin-tree and to three stakes more to heaps of stones 
withinGeorge Blanchard's field with two stakes more and heaps of 
stones standing all on the upland, and so round from stake to stake as 
the swamp run"neth, and then straight to a stake on the south side of 
the house of Joseph Blanchard's half, turning then to another oak, an 
old marked tree, thence to a maple-tree, old marks, thence unto two 
young maples, new marked, and thence to three stakes to a creek- 
head, thence straight to the corner line on the south side of the country 
road leading to [Maiden]." 

As might have been expected, the stakes driven by the 
committee soon decayed or were removed, the heaps of 
stones and the marked trees soon ceased to be promi- 
nent and reliable landmarks, and disputes arose in regard 
to town-boundaries. 

In 1735, another joint committee was chosen to settle 
the bounds of Medford on the north-west ; and the town, 
May»i4, 1744, voted to choose a committee to settle with 
Charlestown the bounds between the two towns "near 
the place called Mystic Pond." 

In 1 771, several changes in boundary lines had been 



1 6 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

made by the acquisition of new territory ; and a committee 
was chosen by the inhabitants of Medford "to run the 
lines anew between Charlestown and Medford, and set up 
some monuments between the towns." A joint commit- 
tee met, and set up twenty-two posts as metes. The town- 
lines thus indicated are shown upon a map in the town 
archives, called " Walling's Map." The enlargement of 
the town was accomplished chiefly between the years 
1748 and 1754, and the action of the citizens in regard 
to it at different times is set down in the ancient records 
as follows : — 

"Oct. 23, 1702: Medford voted to petition the General Court to 
have a tract of land lying in the south of Andover (two miles square) 
set off to it." 

"May 24, 1734: Medford voted, 'That the town will petition for a 
tract of land beginning at the southerly end of Medford line, on the 
easterly side of said town, running there eastward on Charlestown to 
the mouth of Maiden River, there running nearly northward on the 
said Maiden River to the mouth of Creek Head Creek, there running 
with said creek to Medford easterly line. Also a piece of land on the 
northerly side of said Medford, bounded easterly on Maiden line, 
northerly on Stoneham and Woburn line, westerly on the line betwixt 
Mr. Symmes"s and Gardner's farm, running there northward to Mystic 
Pond, with the inhaliitants thereof.' " 

" March 7, 1 748 : Put to vote to know the mind of the town, whether 
they will choose a committee to use their best endeavors to have the 
lands with their inhabitants, now belonging to Charlestown, added to 
this town, which now are on the southerly and northerly sides of this 
town.*' 

This was not successful; but, May 14, 1753, the effort 
was renewed ; the town asked for twenty-eight hundred 
acres, and their prayer was granted. 

The bounds mentioned in the petition to the General 
Court were as follows : — 

" On the southerly side, those that the town petitioned for in the 
year 1738; and those on the northerly side, bounded northerly on 
Stoneham, on the town of Woburn, and by the northerly bounds of 
Mr. William Symmes's farm, and easterly on Maiden." 

The bounds designated in the petition of March 6, 1738, 
are as follows : — 

"The southerly tract lying in Charlestown, bounded northerlvwith 
the (river) . . . westerly with the westerlv bounds of Mr. Smith's, 
Mr. Joseph Tufts's and Mr. Jonathan Tufts's farms, and then running 
from '.he southerly corner of Mr. Jonathan Tufts's farm, eastward 
straight to the westerly corner of Col. Royal's farm, again westerly 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. \y 

with the westerly bounds of Col. Royal's farm, again southerly with 
its southerly bounds, and then running from the south-easterly corner 
thereof eastward straight to Medford River.'' 

The action of the Legislature is thus recorded : — 

"April i8, 1754: John Quincy, Esq., brought down the petition of 
the town of Aledford, as entered the 17th December last, with a report 
of a committee of both Houses. Signed — Jos. Pynchon." 

"Passed in Council: viz., In Council, April 17, 1754. Read and 
accepted, with the amendment at A : and Ordered, That the lands 
within mentioned, together with the inhabitants theregn, be and here- 
by are set off from the town of Charlestown to the town of Medford 
accordingly. Sent down for concurrence. Read and concurred." 

Thus on the 17th of April, 1754, Medford was enlarged 
by all its territory now lying on the south side of the river. 

Ponds and Streams. — Medford Poi\d, known now as 
Mystic Pond, is a charming sheet of water, and, though 
cousin-german to the sea, is as quiet, and retired from the 
ocean, as if it never felt its tidal waves. It is about three 
miles in circumference, half a mile in width, and nowhere 
more than eighty feet in depth. It is divided into nearly 
equal parts by a shoal called the Partings, where was once a 
road used by several persons, some of whom are yet living. 
The lands on each side are slightly elevated. Several ele- 
gant residences have been erected there. In 1861. the city 
of Charlestown, by permission of the Legislature, built 
a stone dam at the Partings, thus forever excluding the 
tide from the upper pond. From this pond Charlestown is 
supplied with water. 

A brook rising in Lexington, and flowing through Arling- 
ton, enters this pond south of the Partings, at the western 
side ; and another stream of much larger dimensions, flow- 
ing through Baconville, and called Abajona River, enters 
it at the north. These are fresh-water streams, and are 
the only tributaries of this pond. The Mystic River has 
its source in this pond, and every twelve hours the water 
in the lower pond is raised from two to six inches by the 
inflowing tide, through this stream. The shore of this 
pond was a favorite resort of the Indian tribes ; and, for 
many years after the white man enjoyed its beauties, an 
Indian chief continued to reside there. In the early years 
of the township this was a famous place for fishing ; and 
shad and alewives were taken in abundance in these waters. 

Spot Pond. — In 1632, the Governor, with Messrs. Now- 



1 8 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

cll, Eliot, and others, went over Mystic River at Medford ; 
and, going north-and-by-east among the rocks about two 
or three miles, they came to a very great pond, having in 
the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with 
trees of pine, beech, and other kinds of wood. This pond 
had "divers small rocks standing up here and there in it," 
and this feature suggested the name which they gave to it. 
The chronicler of their adventure says, — 

"They went all about it upon the ice. From thence (towards the 
north-west about half a mile) they came to the top of a very high rock, 
beneath which (towards the north) lies a goodly plain, part open land 
and part woody, from whence there is a fair prospect ; but, it being then 
close and rainy, they could see but a small distance. This place they 
called Cheese Rock, because, when they went to eat somewhat, they had 
only cheese (the Governor's man forgetting, for haste, to put up some 
bread)." 

Cheese Rock may be easily found on the west side of 
Forest Street, half a mile north-west of the northerly bor- 
der of Spot Pond. 

Mystic River. — This river in a special and very unusual 
sense belongs to Medford. We may almost say that it has 
its beginning, its full course and end, within the limits of 
this township. 

Why it was called Mystic River we do not learn from any 
record or tradition that has come down to us, save that 
which is found in Trumbull's History of Indian Names, 
Places, etc. This writer says that the name " Mystic " 
belongs to the estuary Alissi-tiik, "great tidal river;" but 
the fact just named, and more probably the fact that the 
current in this stream flows sometimes in one direction, 
and sometimes in the opposite, may have seemed, to those 
who first witnessed the phenomena, something mysterious, 
and have suggested the name. 

This river presented to our ancestors strong inducements 
in their choice of a settlement; for it gave assurance of 
unusual fertility of soil ; of a pure and invigorating at- 
mosphere, always affected by the flowing tide ; and of the 
most convenient opportunities for navigation, that came, as 
it were, to every man's door. The river is, probably, very 
much as it was two hundred years ago. 

The tide rises within its banks about twelve feet at the 
Cradock Bridge, and about eight feet at Rock Hill ; but 
its motion is so gentle that it does not wear the banks, even 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



19 



when the ice floats with the tide. The first record that 
has come down to us in which this river is mentioned 
bears the date of Sept. 21, 1621. On that day a band of 
pilgrim adventurers from Plymouth came by water "to Mas- 
sachusetts Bay;" and they coasted by the opening of our 
river. In their report they remark, — 

"Within this bay the savages say there are two rivers; the one 
whereof we saw (Mystic) having a fair entrance, but we had no time 
to discover it." 

Johnson says, — 

" The form of Charlestown, in the frontispiece thereof, is h'ke the 
head, neck, and shoulders of a man ; only the pleasant and navigable 
river of Mistick runs through the right shoulder thereof." 

In many places, rivers were the first highways ; and, as 
it was easier to build a canoe than to open a road, trade 
took the course of navigable streams. The building of 
small barks on the banks of Mystic River, in 1631, shows an 
early recognition of its adaptalDility to that purpose. Trade 
with Boston commenced before 1645, ^^id the river was the 
thoroughfare. Long open boats were used for transporta- 
tion, and the people substituted the tide for oars and sails 
wherever it was practicable ; while in some places long ropes 
were attached to the vessels, and they were drawn by men 
who walked on the banks of the stream. 

The depth of the river is remarkable for one so narrow, 
as is also its freedom from sunken rocks and dangerous 
shoals. Its banks are generally very steep, showing that 
it becomes wider with age, if it changes at all. It has not 
probably changed its current much since our fathers first 
saw it ; and the marshes through which it flows look to 
our eyes as they did to theirs. Few events of extraordi- 
nary interest have been witnessed upon its waters. The 
well-known curve in the bed of the river, near "the Rock," 
extending more than half a mile, made the passage around 
it so difficult, especially with sails, that it soon received 
the name of Labor in Vaiji. In 1761 the inhabitants of 
Medford proposed to cut a canal across this peninsula ; 
and they voted to do it, if it could be done by subscrip- 
tion ! The expense was found to fall upon so few, that 
the plan failed ; but it was accomplished later. 

In the Revolutionary war our river was occasionally a 
scene of hostilities, Aug. 6, 1775, Mr. NowcU says, — 



20 insroRY OF jlfEDFOinX 

"This clay skirmishing up Mistick River. Several soldiers were 
brou'^lit over here (lloston) wounded. The house at Penny Ferry, 
j\Ialden side, was burnt." 

Aug. 1 3, he says, — 

" Several Gondaloes sailed up Mistick River, upon which the Pro- 
vincials [people of Mcdtord] and they had a skirmish; many shots 
were exchanged, but nothing decisive.' 

Lightering had become so extensive a business as to 
need every facility; and in April, 1797, the town chose a 
committee to examine the bed and banks of the river, and, 
if they found that any clearing was necessary, they were 
emi^owered to do it. 

There was a ford across this stream at the Wear till 
1748. The ford in the centre of Medford continued in 
use till 1639, '^"^^l ^^^^ about ten rods above the bridge. 
The Penny Ferry, where Maiden Bridge now is, was estab- 
lished by Charlestown, April 2, 1640, and continued to 
Sept. 28, 1787. There was, till recently, but one island 
in the river, and that is near the shore in Maiden, at Moul- 
ton's Point, and is called "White Island." Two have since 
been made, — one by cutting through "Labor in Vain," 
and the other by straightening the passage above Cradock 
Bridge. 

A good depth of water in this river w^as an object of 
vital imjiortance to the ship-builders, and w^hile the tonnage 
of the ships was small, it was deemed sufficient ; yet there 
were many who wished the town might widen and deepen 
the bed. Several applications were made, but ahvays with- 
out success. 

March 7, 1803, a committee was appointed by the town 
"to find out what rights the town has on the river." hi 
1836, a still more earnest effort to improve navigation was 
made by those most interested in ship-building and light- 
ering ; but the majority of voters decided that no expense 
was necessary until some vessel had found it impossible to 
float down on the highest tides. This misfortune never 
occurred. It always has had depth of water sufificient to 
float any empty, unrigged ship of twenty-five hundred tons. 

At the time when Medford was the centre of considera- 
ble trade ; when vessels were loaded at our wharves for the 
West-India markets ; when bark and wood were brought 
from Maine, and we had rich and active merchants among 
us : at that time it was no unusual sight to see two, four, 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 2 1 

or six sloops and schooners at our wharves, and as many 
in our river. On the 14th of March, 1843, the town voted 
to remove and prevent all obstructions to the free ebb and 
flow of the water. 

Soon after Fulton had propelled vessels by steam, a 
vessel so propelled came up our river to Medford, and was 
here repaired. 

On the borders of this stream there have always ex- 
isted what are now called "landings." These were used 
by the Indians for rendezv^ous during their annual fishing 
seasons. Afterwards they were used by our fathers for 
loading and unloading sloops and schooners. Later still, 
they were used by our fishermen for emptying their nets, 
and some within fifty years have been occupied as ship- 
yards. In the Wade family there is a tradition that their 
ancestor, Major Jonathan Wade, gave to the town, about 
the year 1680, the landing-place recently occupied by Mr. 
J. T. Foster, who carried on a very extensive ship-building 
business on those premises. 

Casualties by drowning in this river have been numer- 
ous, and many of those who perished were adults. Deaths 
that occurred in this way were frequently mentioned in 
the public records, and seventy or eighty years ago there 
seemed something like fatality in this matter. One death 
by drowning occurred each year, through so many years in 
succession, that the inhabitants came to think that there 
was a river-god who would have his annual sacrifice. 

Judge Sewall, under date of Feb. 21, 1698, wrote of 
this stream as it then was in the winter season, saying, — 

" I rode over to Charlestown on the ice, then over to Stower's (Chel- 
sea), so to Mr. Wig.<i:les\vorth. The snow was so deep that I had a 
hard journey. Could go but a foot-pace on Mystic River, the snow was 
so deep." 

Four Brooks in Medford. — That which runs a short 
distance east of the West Medford Depot, on the Lowell 
Railroad, was called Whitmore's Brook, after the pious 
deacon, whose house was on the north side of High 
Street, about two rods west of the brook. It rises in 
Bear Meadow. 

Marble Brook, now called "Meeting-house Brook," crosses 
High Street about forty rods north-east of Rock Hill. 

In the spring, smelts formerly ran in both these brooks 
in great abundance, and they continued to come into them 



22 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

in Inri^e numbers until the beginning of the last half of the 
])rcsent century. Very few are found there now. 

The brook or creek over which Gravelly Bridge was 
built was formerly called Gravelly Brook, but more recently 
it has borne the name of Pine Hill Brook. The stream is 
small, but much swelled by winter rains. It has its source 
in Turkey Swamp. 

The brook which crosses the road, at a distance of a 
quarter of a mile south of the " Royal House," was named 
"Winter Brook." It has its source near the foot of Wal- 
nut Hill. 

Medford has always been remarkable for its freedom 
from epidemics, and this, in large degree, is to be attrib- 
uted to the great length of the river-bed that lies within 
its territory. The water in the Mystic is always brackish 
at high tide, and at the spring tides it is quite salt ; and 
as the banks of the stream are wet anew every twelve 
hours, and are then left to dry, as the water leaves them, 
the exhalations by that process, though invisible, are very 
great, and they fill the atmosphere with salt, cleanse it, 
and render it healthful. The exact reverse of this would 
be the case, if there could be a fresh-water tide, which 
should leave fresh-water vegetation exposed every day to 
the action of the sun. This beautiful and breathing stream, 
which seems to have studied the laws of grace, as it winds 
and wreathes itself through the intervale, has one more 
claim to notice, if not to gratitude : — to the boys of Med- 
ford how welcome are its waters through the warm season ! 

The writer of this volume learned to swim in the Mys- 
tic ; and many an aged man, by whom the events of the 
long-ago are largely forgotten, has vivid recollections of 
his daily bath in the dear old Mystic, when he was young ; 
and, if such a one is hale and vigorous when threescore 
and ten years have entered into his life, he will give large 
items of credit for health and longevity to the waters In 
which he swam and sported in boyhood. 

The hills of Medford contribute to the picturcsqueness 
and beauty of the town. The one commanding the widest 
prospect, and which is most frequented by pleasure-parties, 
is Pine Hill, in the north-eastern part of the town, near 
Spot Pond. It is the highest elevation in that low range 
of hills called "The Rocks," which runs east and west, 
and marks the present boundary of the town on the 
north, and extends easterly to Saugus. It was once cov- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 23 

ered with as dense a forest as its thin soil could sustain ; 
but when the army was stationed near it, in 1775-76, 
its wood was cut off to furnish a supply of fuel, and to 
provide an unobstructed view of the position and move- 
ments of the enemy. The wood was allowed to grow 
again, and became a heavy forest that was unmolested 
until about fifty years ago. Since then the hill has been 
denuded, and much of its picturesqueness is gone forever. 
It looked best with its crown on. This eminence — 
which commands a view of Chelsea and Boston Harbor on 
the east ; Boston, Roxbury, and Cambridge on the south ; 
Brighton, Watertown, and Arlington on the west ; and 
largely uncultivated on the north — has on its summit a fiat 
rock called " Lover's Rock," one of those register-surfaces 
where a young gentleman, with a hammer and a nail, 
could engrave the initials of two names provokingly near 
together. The view from this hill, so diversified and grand, 
fills the eye with satisfaction and the mind with delightful 
thoughts. 

Pasture Hill, on which, as old settlers will remember. 
Dr. Swan's summer-house once stood, is so high as to com- 
mand much of the eastern and southern scenery already 
noticed. This hill is mostly rock, and may, in subsequent 
years, afford a magnificent site for dwellings. 

The next most interesting hill, on the north side of the 
river, is called Mystic Mount. It is in West Medford, be- 
tween High and Woburn Streets, and it commands much 
of the same prospect that Pine Hill does, only at a lower 
angle. It is a small hill ; but to those who have made it 
a favorite lookout for half a century it has charms inde- 
scribably dear, and by them is regarded as an old friend. 
Its neighbor. Rock Hill, on the border of the river, is a 
barren rock, so high as to overlook the houses situated at 
the east, and to afford a most delightful view of Arlington. 

Walnut Hill, now College Hill, on the south side of the 
river, was oncef covered with walnut-trees. By the erec- 
tion of Tufts College on its summit, it has become classic 
ground, — the most renowned of Medford's hills. P'rom 
the roof of the college the ey'e rests upon a panorama of 
surpassing beauty. The spires of numerous churches are 
clearly in view, lifting their taper fingers above the splen- 
did homes and public buildings of Charlestown, Boston, 
Cambridge, and Medford. The State House, Bunker-Hill 
Mgnument, and the college buildings of Harvard, are in 



24 H/STORV OF MEDFORD. 

sight ; and these prominent objects in the midst of the 
cities where they stand, and in near proximity to beauties 
of upland and valley, meadow and marsh, river and ocean, 
make the view among the most delightful in the State, 

There are many smaller hills in Medford, making parts 
of the " Rocks " at the north, which have not yet received 
names. One fact is worthy of notice, that among these 
hills there are copious springs of the sweetest water. In 
imagination we can see them falling in beautiful cascades 
in the future gardens of opulent citizens. 

Ci.i.MArK. — We cannot learn that there has been any 
considerable change in the local climate during the last 
two hundred years. The snowfall seems to be less now 
than formerly. 

Gov. Wint'hrop wrote, July 23, 1630: — 

" For the country itself, I can discern little difference between it 
and our own. We have had only two days, wliich I have oljserved 
more hot than in England. Here is sweet air, fair rivers, and plenty 
of springs, and the water better than in England." 

But an experience of only six weeks in June and_ July 
was not enough to warrant a safe judgment concerning 
the climate; and another testimony, Oct. 30, 1631, is as 
follov/s : — 

" The Governor ha\nng erected a building of stone at Mistic, there 
came so violent a storm of rain, for twenty-four hours, that (it being 
not finished, and laid with clay, for want of lime) two sides of it were 
washed down to the ground ; and much harm was done to the other 
houses by that storm." 

The form of the land in this neighborhood has its effect 
on our climate. We have neither of the extremes which 
belong to deep, long valleys, and high mountains. We 
have very little fog during the year. In Medford there 
are few, if any, places where water can stagnate. It 
readily finds its way to the river; and the good influence 
of this fact on climate and health is considerable. The 
presence of salt water and salt marshes is another favora- 
ble circumstance. Lightnings do not strike here so often 
as between ranges of high hills ; and the thermometer 
does not report Medford as famous for extremes of heat 
or cold. 

Soil .and Productions. — The soil of New England, 
like that of all primitive formations, is rocky, thin, and 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 25 

hard to till. A visitor from the Western prairies, when 
he first looks on our fields, involuntarily asks, " How can 
you get your living out of these lands?" We reply, that 
the little soil we have is very strong, and, by good manure 
and hard labor, we get the best of crops. We generally 
add, that we New-Englanders are an industrious people, 
and by our earnest and well-directed toil can make even 
the desert wastes to "bud and blossom as the rose." But 
what did the soil promise when our forefathers landed 
here.'' Capt. Smith, in his journal (1614), calls the terri- 
tory about us "the paradise of all those parts." 

Rev. Mr. Higginson, writing to his friends in England, 
in 1629, on "New England's Plantation," gives the follow- 
ing description of the soil, climate, and productions : — 

" I have been careful to report nothing but what I have seen with 
my own eyes. The land at Charles River is as fat black earth as can 
be seen anywhere. Though all the country be, as it w^ere, a thick 
wood for the general, yet in diver§ places there is much ground cleared 
by the Indians. It is thought here is good clay to make bricks, and 
tyles, and earthen pots, as need be. At this instant we are sitting a 
brick kiln on work. 

" The fertility of the soil is to be admired at, as appeareth in the 
abundance of grass that groweth everywhere, both very thick, very 
long, and very high, in divers places. But it groweth very wildlv, with 
a great stalk, and a broad and ranker blade ; because it never had been 
eaten by cattle, nor mowed by a sythe, and seldom trampled on by foot. 
It is scarce to be believed how our kine and goats, horses and hoggs, 
do thrive and prosper here, and like well of this country. Our turnips, 
parsnips, and carrots, are here both bigger and sweeter than is ordi- 
nary to be found in England. Here are stores of pumpions, cowcum- 
bers, and other things of that nature. Also, divers excellent pot-herbs, 
strawberries, pennyro^-al, wintersaverie, sorrel, brookelime, liverwort, 
and watercresses ; also, leekes and onions are ordinarie, and divers 
physical herbs. Here are plenty of single damask roses, very sweet; 
also, mulberries, plums, raspberries, currants, chessnuts, filberds, wal- 
nuts, smallnuts, hurtleberries, and hawes of whitethorne, near as good 
as cherries in England. They grow in plenty here." 

The fullest credit may be given to these statements of 
Mr. Higginson. They show, among other things, that the 
region we now occupy was a dense forest in 1629. This 
confirms the story told of Gov. Winthrop ; that when he 
took up his residence on his farm at Ten Hills, on the 
bank of Mystic River, he one day penetrated the forest 
near Winter Hill. He so lost his latitude and longitude 
as to become entirely bewildered. Night came on, and 
he knew not which way to steer. After many ineffectual 
trials to descry any familiar place, he resigned himself to 



26 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

his fate, kindled a fire, put philosophy in his pocket, and 
bivouacked, feeling much as St. Paul did in his shipwreck- 
voyage, when they "cast anchor, and wished for day." 
What the Governor learned or dreamed of during that 
rural night, we are not specifically told ; but his absence 
created a sharp alarm among his family, and a hunting 
party started in quest of him. They " shot off pieces and 
hallooed in the night ; but he heard them not." He found 
his way home in the morning, and discovered that he had 
been near his house most of the time. 

It would be impossible, in our day, to find. a forest within 
sight of the Ten-Hill Farm in which a boy -of ten years 
old could be lost for a, moment. ■ The almost entire de- 
struction of our forests within twenty miles of Boston, 
and our inexplicable neglect in planting new ones, argues 
ill, not only for our providence and economy, but for our 
patriotism and taste. Plant a hogshead of acorns in- yon- 
der rockland, and your money will return you generous 
dividends from nature's savings-bank. 

In 1629 Mr. Graves of Charlestown said, in a letter sent 
to England, — 

" Thus much I can affirm in general, that I never came in a more 
goodly country in all my life. If it hath not at any time been manured 
and husbanded, yet it is very beautiful in open lands, mixed with 
goodly woods, and again open plains, in some places five hundred 
acres, some places more, some less, not much troublesome for to clear 
for the plough to go in; no place barren but on the tops of hills." 

Gov. Winthrop, writing to his son, runs a parallel be- 
tween the soil of Mystic and its neighborhood, and the 
soil of England, and says, — 

" Here>is as good land as I have seen there, though none so bad as 
there. Here can be no want of any thing to those who bring means 
to raise out of the earth and sea." 

Nov. 29, 1630, he writes to his wife, and says, " My dear 
wife, we are here in a paradise." Such testimony from a 
Mystic man, and he the governor, reads agreeably to our 
ears. The grants of land made by the General Court to 
Gov. Winthrop, Mr. Cradock, Rev. Mr. Wilson, and Mr. 
Nowell, show conclusively what the best judges thought 
of the soil and capabilities of Medford. 

We may not doubt that some of these representations 
were highly colored ; for self-interest prompted those who 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 27 

had made a home for themselves on these shores to paint 
the land of their choice fairly bright. Indeed, Deputy- 
Gov. Dudley, in 163 1, writes, — 

" Honest men, out of a desire to draw others over to them, wrote 
somewhat hyperboHcally of many things here." 

The first farmers in New England were taught by the 
Indians how to raise corn ; but the pupils soon surprised 
their teachers by the immense crops which they obtained. 
Their superior culture gave them more corn on an acre 
than the Indians obtained on two or three acres ; and the 
natives, thinking it very mysterious, used to say to their 
white neighbors, "Englishmen, smile on our corn too." 

There were many lands held in common by companies 
of farmers ; and those large tracts were enclosed by fences 
built by the whole company. At the harvest, each re- 
ceived according to his proportion in the investment. 
This complicated plan brought its perplexities ; and the 
General Court, to settle them, passed the following law, 
May 26, 1647 : — 

" Ordered, That they who own the largest part of any lands com- 
mon sliall have power to order and appoint the improvement of tlie 
whole field." 

Such an order would, of course, create disaffection 
among the smaller owners ; and in the course of a few 
years the farms were fields for individual enterprise, and 
while that system of work gave better satisfaction, it in- 
creased the spirit of emulation, and multiplied results. 

In their corporate capacity, the people offered a small 
bounty on every acre of planted field, and this encouraged 
agricultural enterprise. There can be no doubt that the 
colony of Massachusetts was quite as far advanced in agri- 
cultural skill and productive harvests as that of Connecti- 
cut : therefore we can judge, from ]\Ir. Wolcott's farm in 
Connecticut, what and how much our Medford farmers 
raised. That distinguished magistrate says (1638), "I 
made five hundred hogsheads of cider out of my own 
orchard in one year ! " We apprehend these hogsheads 
were not of the modern size, but were a small kind of bar- 
rel. He says, "Cider is \os. a hogshead." He gives an 
enumeration of products thus : " English wheat, rye, fla.x, 
hemp, clover, oats, corn, cherries, quince, apple, pear, plum, 



28 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

barberry-trees." A very tasteful catalogue ! It sounds 
very little like scarcity or self-denial. 

Modern temperance men may object to the great 
amount of cider above named ; but the opinions and habits 
of men change with the centuries, and we who have much 
whiskey and little cider may not be uncharitable towards 
those who had much cider, and no whiskey. But the point 
for observation is the fact, that, in Colonial times, the 
land in this region was rich and productive. Neverthe- 
less, it needed help from manure ; and Johnson tells us, 
that in this region "there was a great store of fish in the 
spring time, especially alewives, about the largeness of a 
herring ; and that many thousand of, these they use to put 
under their Indian corn." This method of enriching the 
soil in places near the ocean, and by those streams in 
which such fish abounded, was continued for many years ; 
and some farmers practise it at the present time. 

The first settlers, as already intimated, found clay in 
different parts of their plantation where cellars and wells 
were dug ; and they concluded that drought could not 
extensively injure a soil which had a deep substratum of 
this water-proof material. 

It should be observed that the pioneers in this town, as 
elsewhere in New England, were the great land-holders. 
They constituted the company that made the local rules 
and regulations before the town was organized. There 
were many adventurers who did not belong to the com- 
pany, and they settled where they could buy or hire at the 
best advantage. Oct. 7, 1640, we find the following rec- 
ord : — 

"John Greenland is granted his petition, which is, to plant upon a 
five-acre lot in Charlestown, bounds on Mistick River " 

The rule for planting was : Plant when the white-oak 
leaves are the size of a mouse's ear. Hence the lines : — 

" Wlien tlie white-oak leaves look goslin gray, 
Plant then, be it April, June, or May." " 

Our fathers were farmers after the English modes, and 
therefore had to learn many new ways from the sky and 
the climate. The times of ploughing and planting here, 
in spring and autumn, varied somewhat from those of their 
native land. Some plants which in cold and misty Eng- 



HISTORY OF ^r ED FORD. 29 

land wooed the sun, could besf thrive here if they wooed 
the shade. While land there with a south-eastern expos- 
ure was worth much more for culture than that which 
faced the north-west, the difference here was compara- 
tively small. But a great change has been realized since 
those days. At the present tin^e, fields in any part of New 
England that incline to the south-east are warmer and 
more desirable than those with a north-western exposure. 

Our ancient farmers had soon to learn that their stock 
of all kinds must be sheltered from the destroying cold 
and storms of an American winter. In the preservation 
of vegetables and fruits, also, our fathers had to receive 
new instruction from the climate. Their potatoes, apples, 
cabbages, etc., they preserved by burying them. It took 
them several years to adjust themselves to their novel 
conditions of life. 

As the soil and climate must determine what grains, 
fruits, and vegetables can be raised with profit, it soon 
became evident to our Medford farmers that Indian corn 
was to be a staple. Rye, barley, wheat, and oats were 
found productive grains ; peas and beans yielded abun- 
dantly ; while turnips, beets, onions, and parsnips gradu- 
ally grew into favor. It is wonderful how many kinds of 
fruit, grain, and vegetables were raised in this region only 
a few years after the first settlers came here. From rec- 
ords kept by the first farmers, we gather the following 
condensed items, and preserve them in this history for 
husbandmen of future ages to consider : — 

" 1646, Aug. I. The great pears ripe. 
" 3. The long apples ripe. 
" 12. Blackstone's apples gathered. 
" 15. Tankerd apples gathered. 
" 18. Kreton pippins and long red apples gathered. 
1647, July 5. We began to cut the peas in the field. 
" 14. We began to shear rye. 
Aug. 2. We mowed barley. 
" Same week we sliear summer wheat. 

" 7. The great pears gathered. 
Sept. 15. The russetins gathered, and pearmaines. 
164S, May 26. Sown one peck' of peas, the moon in the full. 
Observe how they prove. 
July 28. Summer apples gathered. 
1649, July 20. Apricoks ripe." 

Potatoes were not known to our first settlers ; although 
amons: the articles "to send for New England" from 



30 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

London, March i6, 1628, "potatoes" are named. Their 
first introduction to this neighborhood is said to have 
been by those emigrants, called the "Scotch-Irish," who 
first entered Londonderry, N.H., April ii, 1719. As 
they passed through Andover, Mass., they left some 
potatoes as seed, to be planted that spring. They were 
planted according to the directions ; and their balls, when 
ripened, were supposed to be the edible fruit. The 
balls, therefore, were carefully cooked and eaten ; but 
the conclusion was, that the Andover people did not like 
potatoes. An early snow-storm covered the potato-field, 
and kept the tubers safely till the plough of the next 
spring hove them into sight. Some of the largest were 
then boiled ; whereupon the Andover critics changed 
their opinion, and have used them from that day. When 
the potato was first known in Scotland, it suffered a 
religious persecution, like some other innocent things. 
The Scots thought it to be a most unholy esculent, blas- 
phemous to raise, and sacrilegious to eat. They therefore 
made its cultivation an illegal act ; and why ? " Because," 
as they said, "it is not mentioned in the Bible." The 
prejudice against this unoffending vegetable was so great 
at Naples, in Italy, that the people refused to eat it, even 
in the time of famine. The soil in Medford has been 
found particularly fitted for this plant, owing to a sub- 
stratum of clay, which keeps it moist. The early mode 
of preserving potatoes through the winter was to bury 
them below the reach of the frost, and shelter them from 
rain. 

Raising stock was an enterprise of paramount impor- 
tance during the first century of our town, and the early 
farmers were enriched by it more than by any other de- 
partment of their labor. Proximity to Boston gave them 
an easy and sure market, and free pasture-lands enabled 
them to raise cattle at a small expense. The fatting of 
cattle \\\ the early days of our township was attended 
with little difficulty or expense ; for they had hundreds 
of acres over which to range, unlooked to by their owners, 
till the close of the summer, when they were taken to 
the stall, and fed with corn. Each quadruped was marked 
with its owner's name, and was immediately restored when 
it had wandered into a neighboring town. 

The trouble with swine was much greater. March 9, 
1637, before the lands under cultivation were generally 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 31 

fenced, the following law became necessary, and was en- 
acted : — 

"All swine shall be kept up in yards, or islands, or committed to 
keepers, under penaltj^ of \os. for every swine not so disposed of; and 
whatsoever swine shall be taken in corn or meadow-ground shall for- 
feit 5^. apiece to those that shall empound them, and the owners shall 
be liable to pay double damages," 

When mowing-grounds and tillage-fields became fenced, 
and that was early, then it became a common habit with 
our ancestors to let "hogs run at large," as they were 
allowed to run in the City of New York, many years ago ; 
of which practice something may be said on the score of 
economy, but very little of its neatness. It is to be pre- 
sumed that during the first half-century, and even after 
that, the law of 1637 was so rigidly enforced, that the 
swine were kept within tolerable limits ; but in March, 
1 72 1, the fencing of roads and fields had become so gen- 
eral, that the town voted to let the hogs go at large again. 
This was such a grievous offence to many persons, that 
the action was reversed six years later ; and in March, 
1770, the town took final action in the matter, and voted 
that the hogs should no longer go at large. This action 
wrought wonderful changes in the grounds around private 
dwellings, gave public roads and walks an air of neatness 
they never had before, and really marked a new era in the 
aesthetic history of the town. 

It cannot but be interesting to those who in these times 
pay sixty dollars for an ox, one hundred dollars for a cow, 
two hundred dollars for a family horse, etc., to read of the 
following valuations placed upon such animals in 1689. A 
tax was to be raised at that time, and the oxen were val- 
ued at £,2 \os. each ; the cows, at ^r \os.\ each horse at 
£2 ; and other animals at an equally low rate. 

Ship-building and brick-making were among the first 
lucrative vocations of the people of Medford, and we can 
thus see that they were favorably situated for the attain- 
ment of wealth. Spinning and weaving in those days 
were almost as much a part of farm-labor as the making 
of butter and cheese ; and the farmer's wife and daughters 
were not a whit behind him in patient toil or productive 
results. Hemp and flax were used for clothing ; and the 
labor of making these into garments for workmen was not 
small. 



32 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

As Boston increased in population, the neij^hboring farm- 
ers found another source of constant gain in the milk busi- 
ness. This led to raising cows on an extensive scale, while 
this, in its turn, led to the culture of grass and hay in 
preference to corn. The amount of butter and cheese 
made in Medford has been, therefore, comparatively small ; 
the milk-farms being found more profitable. At the begin- 
ning of this century, the quantity of milk sold in Boston 
by our Medford farmers was very large, and its 'price 
varied from three to five cents a quart. During the last 
fifty years, Medford milk has found a good home market. 

The cultivation of fruit has been a favorite and profita- 
ble employment in this town. Many farms have greatly 
increased in value as the result of this pursuit, which has 
been a specialty with many farmers in this and surround- 
ing towns. The rapid increase in population during the 
last decades has diminished the size of apple-orchards, so 
that it is no longer usual for them to produce two or three 
hundred barrels each in a year ; but the quality of fruit 
has been constantly improved, and pears, plums, quinces, 
grapes, and some other pomological productions of the 
best varieties, are abundant in all this region. 

To Medford belongs the honor of introducing to the peo- 
ple of New England the delicious Baldwin apple. The 
tree that first bore this fair and precious fruit grew on the 
side-hill within two rods of the former Woburn line, and 
about ten rods east of the present road which leads from 
West Medford to the ancient boundary of Woburn. It 
was on the farm occupied by Mr. Samuel Thompson, forty 
or fifty rods south of the building that was called " Black 
Horse Tavern." The author of the first history of Med- 
ford, at the request of Gov. Brooks, went to see this tree 
in 1813. It was then very old, and partly decayed, but 
bore fruit abundantly. Around its trunk the woodpeckers 
had drilled numerous holes, and, because of this prominent 
feature of the tree, its apples were called "Woodpecker 
Apples." In process of time the name was shortened, and 
the apples were called " Peckers." They had their present 
name from this cause ; viz., Mr. Baldwin of Woburn, the 
father of Loammi Baldwin, was an intimate friend of young 
Mr. Thompson (afterwards Count Rumford), and both of 
them, being lovers of science, asked permission of Pro- 
fessor Winthrop to attend his course of lectures in natural 
philosophy at Harvard College. Twice each week, these 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. y^ 

two ambitious students wallvcd from their homes in Wo- 
burn to bring back with them the teachings of the learned' 
professor. One day, as they were passing the " Wood- 
pecker Tree," they stopped to contemplate the tempting 
red cheeks on its loaded boughs ; and the result was the 
usual one, — they took and tasted. They were greatly sur- 
prised to find the quality of the fruit more excellent than 
its appearance, and unhesitatingly they pronounced the 
apples the best they had ever tasted. Some years after- 
this, Col. Baldwin took several scions from this tree to a 
public nursery ; and from this circumstance they named 
the apple after him, which name it has since retained. In 
the gale of September, 1815, this parent tree fell; but it 
left to us and to posterity a numerous progeny of Bald- 
wins, that will be highly esteemed wherever known. 

That the Baldwin apple is a natural fruit, and not the 
result of grafting, we have the testimony of Mr. L. R, 
Symmes, formerly of Medford, but now of Winchester,, 
who says, — 

" I well remember that tree. I picked its fruit every season for 
several years ; and, although we called the apples ' Peckers ' at that 
time, they were the same as those that are now called ' Baldwins.' 

" My reason for knowing that the fruit of the original tree was natu- 
ral, and not grafted, is, that a sprout which came up from the roots of 
that tree bore the same kind of apples that the tree itself did. The tree 
was not killed when it was blown over ; but a part of its roots remained 
in the ground, and it lived until it was destroyed by fire, at the burning 
of the house of the late Mr. Boone, some twenty years ago. It stood 
so near his house, that some of its branches touched his windows." 

The price of land has steadily increased from two shil- 
lings an acre in 1635, and five shillings in 1689, to fifty 
dollars in 1778, and one hundred dollars in 1830. From 
the year 1800 to the present time, favorite house-lots have 
advanced in price so rapidly, that two thousand dollars 
would be refused for a single acre. This fashionable re- 
treat from city to suburban life has induced the owners 
of farms to cut up into house-lots their tillage-lands, and 
sell them at public auction, as they could not afford to till 
land that was so valuable for other purposes. 

Natural History. — The rocks are mostly primitive 
granite or sienite, existing in large masses. Some are in 
a state of decay, as, for example, the "Pasture-hill gravel." 
This gravel is used extensively for garden-walks, and its 
fineness and color make it very desirable. The soil is 



34 HISTORY OF AfEDFOP.D. 

composed mostly of silex and argil, a mixture favorable to 
vegetation. 

The flora of Medford is a fair representation of the 
botanical products of the State. The high hills, rocky 
pastures, large plains, alluvial intervales, deep swamps, 
and extensive marshes in this town, give food to almost all 
kinds of trees, plants, shrubs, grasses, and sedges. The 
presence of fresh water and salt, also the mingling of them 
in Mystic River, produce a rich variety of herbaceous 
plants ; and the salt-marsh flowers, though very small, are 
•often exceedingly beautiful. Of lichens there are great 
varieties, and some rare specimens of the cryptogamous 
plants. 

Among our forest -trees we have the oak in four varie- 
ties, — white, black, red, and gray. Two varieties of wal- 
nut are found here; and "nutting," once a great pastime 
with Medford boys in the month of October, is not all in 
the past. Graceful elms rejoice our eyes wherever we 
turn, and our streets are shaded by them. The clean, 
symmetrical rock-maple has come among us, and seems to 
thrive like its brother, the white-maple. Of the chestnut, 
we have known two large trees in the woods, but have 
never heard of more. Beach-trees have never been abund- 
ant or thrifty here ; and we can say the same of the black 
and the white ash. There are still flourishing specimens 
of three varieties of birch, — the black, the white, and the 
yellow. 

The class of forest evergreens is well represented in 
Medford. The white and pitch pines are common, though 
their use in building, and their consumption by steam- 
engines, have made them comparatively scarce. One of 
the most familiar, beautiful, and valuable forest-trees, is the 
cedar ; and both kinds, the red and white, are here. The 
hemlock and the holly are only casual among us. Whether 
all these trees were common when our ancestors first set- 
tled here, we cannot say ; for there may have been then 
what we now see, namely, a rotation of forest-trees. We 
have seen a pine-forest felled, and an oak one spring in its 
place ; and, where the oak one has been felled, the pine 
has sprung up. In like manner, the cedar and maple for- 
ests have been rotatory. 

The fruit-trees now so numerous and of so great varie- 
ty were not indigenous to the soil, but were brought here 
at different times from other countries. Also the orna- 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



Jii 



mental trees and flowering shrubs, so extensively culti- 
vated, are largely from different parts of Europe, and 
Central and South America ; so that we seem to live in 
the midst of the vegetation of five zones. 

Wild animals once abounded in the forests of Medford, 
as we may learn by consulting the ancient records of the 
town. May i8, 1631 : "It is ordered that no person shall 
kill any wild swine without a general agreement at some 
court." The bear was quite social with our fathers, and 
for a century haunted their home here. He was far less 
destructive than the wolf. Wolves and wild-cats were 
such devourers of sheep that premiums were paid for their 
heads. Going back to Sept. 6, 1631, we find these rec- 
ords : " The wolves did much hurt to calves and swine be- 
tween Charles River and Mistick." Sept. 2, 1635 : "It is 
ordered that there shall be ^s. for every wolf, and \s. for 
every fox, paid out of the treasury to him who kills the 
same." Nov. 20, 1637 • " lox. shall be paid for every wolf, 
and 2s. for every fox." Wolves have disappeared from 
this locality ; but foxes are occasionally seen. Deer were 
very common when our fathers settled in Medford ; and 
until the beginning of this century, our inhabitants chose 
annually an officer whom they called "Deer Reeve." 
Dec. 25, 1739 : "Voted to choose two persons to see to the 
preservation of deer, as the law directs." Nov. 15, 1637: 
" It is ordered that no man shall have leave to buy venison 
in any town, but by leave of the town." The raccoon, 
that used to plunder pur cornfields, has disappeared. The 
mink and muskrat are still around our streams and ponds ; 
but the boys seldom find them, though often engaged in 
the hunt for that game. The woodchuck, weasel, skunk, 
gray and yellow squirrel, are still seen in some parts of 
the town. Rabbits, that were once abundant, have nearly 
disappeared ; and the oldest inhabitant cannot recollect 
seeing a wild beaver. Moles and meadow-mice are still 
so abundant as to be troublesome ; and, if posterity should 
wish to know if rats and mice are a pest to us in this 
generation, we leave on record our emphatic affirmative. 

The birds now common in Medford are such as abound 
in all this region, and such as are usually found in this lati- 
tude all around the continent. As birds must follow their 
food, their migration northward in spring, and southward 
in autumn, enables us to see a great variety of these trav- 
ellers. How powerful, how mysterious, is this impulse for 



36 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

chancce of place ! God seems to have touched them with 
his spirit, and they became as obedient as the planets. 

" Who bade the stork, Columbus-like, explore 
Heavens not his own, and worlds unknown before? 
Who calls the council, states the certain day.? 
Who forms the phalanx, and who jwints the way?" 

Some birds, like wild geese, make their journey in one 
steady flight, only pausing for food and rest ; while others 
advance slowly to greet the opening buds, the spring in- 
sects, and the spawning herring. Some leave the sunny 
south, and hasten to a cooler clime, passing us at Medford 
in April or May ; and a close observer might publish regu- 
lar ornithological bulletins of their successive arrivals. Of 
those that rest with us, the first-comer in the spring is the 
bluebird, whose winter home is in Mexico and Brazil, and 
whose first song here is a soft, exhilarating, oft-repeated 
warble, uttered with open, quivering wings, and with such 
a jubilant heart as to thrill us with delight. Then comes 
the friendly and social robin. The old robins do not, usu- 
ally, go far south in the winter, and frequently they stay 
in this region, with the woodpecker and other birds, all 
through that cold and stormy season ; but the young robins 
migrate in autumn, sometimes as far south as Texas. A 
large variety of spring birds, among which are the bunt- 
ings, finches, sparrows, and thrushes, come in quick suc- 
cession to rear their young. Snipes, quails, partridges, 
and woodcocks come a little later. Sandpipers, plovers, 
teals, and ducks arrive among the latest. Medford Pond 
was a common resort for several kinds of wild ducks in 
the long-ago ; but the sound of the hunter's gun, and the 
progress of civilization, startled them from that retreat, 
so that in these days very few are seen there. 

The barn-swallow, that comes from the Gulf of Mexico 
to spend his summer with us, is always greeted with a joy- 
ous welcome about the loth of May. The rice-bird of 
Carolina, called the reed-bird in Pennsylvania, and the 
butter-bird in Cuba, is called here the bobolink, and it 
amuses us greatly. The male, when he arrives, is dressed 
up as showily as a field-officer on parade-day, and seems to 
be quite as happy. Wild with the gush of animal spirits, 
he appears not to know what to do, and flies and sings as 
if he needed two tongues to utter all his joy. We might 
speak of the little wren, that creeps into some hole under 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 37 

our eaves, and there rears its numerous family ; the hum- 
ming-bird, that builds so skilfully in our gardens that we 
never find its nest ; the yellow-bird, that makes the air 
resound with its love-notes ; the thrush, that seems made 
to give the highest concert-pitch in the melody of the 
woods ; the sparrows, that a few years ago were brought 
from England, and are now very numerous in this country : 
and to these we might add the night-hawk, the whippoor- 
will, and many more that spend their summer with us ; but 
these are enough to show that the dwellers in Medford 
are favored each season with the sight and song of a rich 
variety of birds. We find the following record made 
March 8, 1631 : "Flocks of wild pigeons, this day, so 
thick that they obscure the light." 

Another record shows that our fathers preserved the 
game laws. Sept. 3, 1634: "There is leave granted [by 
the General Court] to Mr. John Winthrop, jun., to employ 
his Indian to shoot at fowl " (probably in Mystic River), 

The fish most common in our waters were the shad, ale- 
wives, smelt, bass, perch, bream, eel, sucker, tom-cod, pick- 
erel, and shiner. Some of these are now rare. We do 
not now think of any species of fish which frequent either 
our salt or fresh waters that is unfit for food. 

Of insects we have our share, and could well do with 
fewer. If all persons would agree to let the birds live, 
we should have less complaint about destructive insects. 
The cedar or cherry bird is appointed to keep down the 
canker-worm ; and, where this useful bird is allowed to 
live unmolested, those terrible scourges are kept in due 
subjection. The borer, which enters the roots of apple, 
peach, quince, and other trees, and eats his way up in the 
alburnum, is a destroyer of the first rank among us. Of 
late years, almost every variety of tree, plant, and shrub, 
appears to have it?, patron insect, that devours its blossoms 
or its fruit. They are so numerous and destructive, that 
many persons do not plant certain kinds of vines, in eat- 
ing which these creatures display a most voracious appe- 
tite. The bugs most complained of here are the squash, 
yellow, potato, cabbage, apple, peach, pear, and rose bugs. 
Fire, water, and all sorts of decoctions, powders, and fumi- 
gations, have been resorted to for the extermination of the 
above-named bugs, yet all with unsatisfactory results. A 
Medford gardener, many years ago, who raised the most 
and best melons and squashes of any man in the country, 



38 HISTORY OF ^r ED FORD. 

was accustomed to place toads near his hills of plants. 
Every morning these hungry hunters would hop forth to 
their duty ; and their missile tongues, glued at the end, 
were sure to entrap every insect. Caterpillars and canker- 
worms have destroyed orchards, as grasshoppers have fields ; 
and the most thorough measures are necessary to jDrevent 
their ravages. 

The keeping of honey-bees was a favorite employment in 
the days of our Medford ancestors, and a pound of honey 
bore, for nearly two centuries, the same price as a pound 
of butter. As early as 1640 bees were kept here, and 
their gathered sweets were among the very choicest deli- 
cacies on our ancestral tables. The modes now adopted 
for taking a portion of honey from every hive, and yet 
leaving enough to feed the insect family through the win- 
ter, was not known by our forefathers. Their mode of 
securing the honey of their bees was the extreme of cru- 
elty and ingratitude. When autumn flowers ceased to 
yield any sweets, the owner of bees resolved to devote one 
hive to destruction ; and his method was as follows : He 
dug a hole in the ground, near his apiary, six inches square 
and three deep ; and into this hole he put brimstone 
enough to kill all the bees in any hive. When night had 
come, and the innocent family were soundly sleeping, the 
owner set fire to the brimstone, and then immediately 
placed the hive over the suffocating fumes, and there left 
it till morning, when it was found that not even a member 
of the hapless household was left ! 

We have given these broken notices of the natural his- 
tory of Medford, and of matters connected with it, in 
popular language, and without full scientific arrangement, 
deeming any further catalogue foreign to the purposes of 
this history. 



^^ 






2-^^-^ 




HISTORY OF MED FORD. 39 



CHAPTER II. 

RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD. 

The best sources of history are contemporaneous rec- 
ords. The earliest records of the town extant are in a 
book fifteen inches long, six wide, and one inch thick. It 
is bound in parchment, and its leaves are tied together 
with leathern strings. The loss of the first thirty pages 
is much to be deplored. The first entry is as follows : — 

"The first Monday of February, in the year of our Lord, 1674: 
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Medford, Mr. Nathaniel Wade 
was chosen constable for the year ensuing." 

The chirography is good, the sentences are properly 
constructed, and the spelling is unusually coi'rect for that 
period. In accordance with the pedantry of the day, Latin 
quotations are frequently introduced among the somewhat 
dry and meagre details of town business, furnishing satis- 
factory assurance of the sound scholarship of our fathers. 

The first six pages of the book, in its present imperfect 
condition, were written by Jonathan Wade; and, so far as 
is now known, he was the first town-clerk. His successor 
was Stephen Willis, who held the office thirty-six years, 
in two terms of service, — from 1675 to 1701, and from 
1708 to 1718. John Bradstreet was town-clerk in the in- 
terval. The book closes with the retirement of Stephen 
Willis from the position he had so long and faithfully filled. 
The last item in the volume is dated Aug. 20, 1718, and is 
the receipt of Rev. Aaron Porter for his salary. 

The second volume is a small folio, bound in parchment. 
Its records cover the period from Feb. 12, 171 8, to June 

23. 1735- , . . , 

The third volume is a large folio, sadly torn and injured. 
The later town-records are complete, and well preserved in 
books which are calculated to stand the wear and tear of 
time. 



40 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The early church-records of the First Parish furnish 
much interesting information touching the religious life 
of the period, and they incidentally throw a good deal of 
light upon the personal and family history of the old in- 
habitants. The first volume begins May 19, 1712. and 
ends April 13, 1774. It contains all the records of the 
church during the pastorates of Rev. Mr. Porter and Rev. 
Mr. Turell, including births, baptisms, and marriages, the 
doings of the church, the admissions to the Lord's Supper, 
etc. ; but it does not notice the deaths. The second vol- 
ume contains all the records belonging to the ministry of 
Dr. Osgood. It begins Sept. 14, 1774, and ends with his 
last entry, Dec. 2, 1822, made twelve days before his death. 

The earliest records of the town-treasurer which are 
preserved are those of Capt. Samuel Brooks, who died in 
1768. 

The old records are made up of scanty and brief memo- 
randa, giving, in most cases, the barest statement of facts 
and transactions. The first official in Medford who seems 
to have had a just regard for posterity in making his rec- 
ords was Thomas Secomb, who, holding the office of town- 
clerk for twenty-two years (1745-67), recorded with admira- 
ble particularity the facts most important to the historian. 

1 he First Settlement. — To show properly the first com- 
ing of our ancestors to this region, it will be necessary to 
trace their last movements in England. Valuable infor- 
mation touching the purposes of the migration, and the 
views of its promoters, is furnished in a letter of Gov. 
Dudley to the Countess of Lincoln, dated March 28, 163 1. 
The following are extracts from it : — 



To the Right Honorable, my very good Lady, the Lady Bridget, Countess of 
Lincolti. 

Madam, — Touching; the plantation which we here liave begun, it 
fell out jhus: About the year 1627 some friends, being together in 
Lincolnshire, fell into discourse about New England and the planting 
of the gospel there ; and, after some deliberation, we imparted our 
reasons, by letters and messages, to some in London and the West 
Country, where it was likewise deliberately thought upon, and at 
length, with often negotiation, so ripened, that in'the year 1628 we 
procured a patent from his Majesty for our planting 'between the 
Massachusetts Bay and Charles River on the south, and the River of 
Merrimack on the north, and three miles on either side of those riv- 
ers and bays, as also for the government of those who did or should 
inhabit within that compass. And the same year w^e sent Mr. John 
Endicott, and some with him, to begin a plantation, and to strengthen 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



41 



such as we should find there, which we sent thither from Dorchester 
and some places adjoining ; from whom, the same year, receivin<; 
hopeful news, the next year (1629) we sent divers ships over, with 
tibout three hundred people, and some cows, goats, and horses, many 
of which arrived safely. 

These, by their too large commendations of the country and the 
commodities thereof, invited us so strongly to go on, tliat' Mr. Win- 
throp of Suffolk (who was well known in his own country, and well 
approved here for his piety, liberality, wisdom, and gravity), coming 
in to us, we came to such resolution, that in April, 1630, we set sail 
from Old England with four good ships. And, in May following, 
eight more followed ; two liaving gone before in February and March, 
and two more following in June and August, besides anotlier set out 
by a private merchant. These seventeen ships arrived all safe in 
New England for the increase of the plantation here this year (1630), 
but made a long, a troublesome, and costly voyage, being all wind- 
bound long in England, and hindered with contrary winds after they 
set sail, and so scattered with mists and tempests, that few of them 
arrived together. Our four ships which set out in April arrived here 
in June and July, where we found the colony in a sad and unexpected 
condition ; above eighty of them being dead the winter before, and 
many of those alive weak and sick, all the corn and bread among 
them all hardly sufficient to feed them a fortnight. But, bearing these 
things as we might, we began to consult of our place of sitting down; 
for Salem, where we landed, pleased us not. 

And to that purpose some were sent to the Bay to search up the 
rivers for a convenient place, who, upon their return, reported to have 
found z. good place upon Mistick; but some other of us, seconding 
these, to approve or dislike of their judgment, we found a place 
liked us better, three leagues up Charles River, and thereupon un- 
shipped our goods into other vessels, and with much cost and labor 
brought them in July to Charlestown. But there receiving advertise- 
ments (by some of the late arrived ships), from London and Amster- 
dam, of some French preparations against us (many of our people 
brought with us being sick of fevers and the scurvy, and we thereby 
unable to carry up our ordnance and baggage so far), we were forced 
to change counsel, and for our present shelter to plant dispersedly, — 
some at Charlestown, which standeth on the north side of the mouth 
of Charles River; some on the south side thereof, which place we 
named Boston (as we intended to liave done the place we first resolved 
on) ; some of us upon Mistick, which we named Meadfordj some of 
us westward on Charles River, four miles from Charlestown, which 
place we named IVatej'towiij others of us two miles from Boston, in 
a place we called Roxbiiry ; others upon the River Saugus between 
Salem and Charlestown; and the Western-men four miles south from 
Boston, in a place we named Dorchester. They who had health to 
labor fell to building, wherein many were interrupted with sickness, 
and many died weekly, yea, almost daily. 

After my brief manner I say this : that, if any come hither to plant 
for worldly ends that can live well at home, he commits an error of 
which he will soon repent him; but if for spiritual, and that no par- 
ticular obstacle hinder his removal, he may find here wliat may well 
content him, viz., materials to build, fuel to burn, ground to plant, seas 
and rivers to fish in, a pure air to breathe in, good water to drink till 



42 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

wine or beer can be made ; which too;ether with the cows, hogs, and 
o-oats broui^ht iiither already, may suffice for food: as for fowl and 
venison, they are dainties liere, as well as in England. For clothes 
and beddinii", they must bring them with them, till time and industry 
produce theni here. In a word, we yet enjoy little to be envied, but 
endure much to be pitied in the sickness and mortality of our people. 
If any godly men, out of religious ends, will come over to help us in 
the good wo'rk we are about, I "think they cannot dispose of themselves, 
nor of their estates, more to God's glo'ry and the furtherance of their 
own reckoning ; but thev must not be of the poorer sort yet, for divers 
years. I am now, this 2Sth March, 1631, sealing my letters. 
Your Honor's old thankful servant, 

Thomas Dudley. 

By this letter we learn, that, while there was a religious 
purpose in the venture of those who first came to this part 
of New England, there was also, with many of them, large 
hope of temporal good Those who came over from Eng- 
land in 1628 met with dire misfortunes, and those who came 
in 1 630 found the colony disheartened and in a famishing 
condition. The new-comers did not like Salem, and re- 
solved at once to make a new departure, and find, if possi- 
ble, a better location. In carrying out that resolve, they 
discovered the valley of the Mystic, which they called Mead- 
ford. Having supplied the wants of their friends at Salem, 
and having divided their party into six companies, those 
having health set to work earnestly at the different points 
named in the foregoing letter, and none were more prosper- 
ous than those who settled near the Mystic. 

In the Charlestown records, 1664, John Green, in giving 
a history of the first-comers, says, — 

"Amongst others that arrived at Salem at their own cost were 
Ralph Sprague, with his brethren Richard and William, who, with 
three or four more, by joint consent, and approbation of Mr. John 
Endicott, Governor, did, the same summer of anno 1628 (29), under- 
take a journey from Salem, and travelled tiie woods above twelve miles 
to the westward, and lighted of a place situate and lying on the north 
side of Charles River, full of Indians, called Aberginians. Tiieir old 
sachem being dead, his eldest son, by the English called John Saga- 
more, was their chief, and a man naturally of a gentle and good dispo- 
sition. . . . They found it was a neck of land, generally full of stately 
timber, as was the main and the land lying on the east side of the 
river, called Mystick River, from tlie farm Mr. Cradock's servants 
had jilanted called Mystick, which this river led up unto ; and, indeed, 
generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilderness, full 
of timber." 

These were the first European feet that pressed the soil 
we now tread. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 43 

Gov. Winthrop, in his Journal, says, — 

"Thursday, 17th of June, 1630: We went to Massachusetts to find 
out a place for our sitting-down. We went up Mystick Rh'er about 
six miles." 

This was probably the first exploration of the river, car- 
ried as far as Medford lines, and we may reasonably fix 
upon June 17, 1630, as the time when our Anglo-Saxon 
ancestors first came to Medford, and determined upon the 
settlement of the town, and thus took possession. The 
first settlers came from Suffolk, Essex, and Lincolnshire, 
in England. 

The first grant made by the Court of Assistants of lands 
in Mystic was made to Gov. Winthrop in 163 1. The 
record says, — 

" Six hundred acres of land, to be set forth by metes and bounds, 
near his house in Mistick, to enjoy to him and his heirs forever." 

He called his place the "Ten Hills Farm," which name 
it still retains, not as a farm, but as a section of the town, 
now converted into building-lots, and occupied for various 
purposes. This favorite selection of the chief magistrate 
would naturally turn his thoughts to his fast friend, Mathew 
Cradock, and lead him to induce Mr. Cradock's men to 
settle in the neighborhood. Thus we arrive at a natural 
reason for the first coming of shipwrights and fishermen to 
this locality. Gov. Winthrop had early settled the question 
for himself, and then immediately gave his advice to his 
friend's company; for, by special contract in England, the 
artisans were to work two-thirds of the time for the com- 
pany, and one-third for Mr. Cradock. This arrangement 
brought the Governor and these workmen very near to- 
gether, and made it for the interest and convenience of both 
to become neighbors. We do not see how it could well 
have been otherwise. 

The facts we infer are these. The four ships, " Arbella," 
"Jewell," "Ambrose," and " Talbot," which sailed from the 
Isle of Wight, April 8, 1630, brought the first settlers of 
this region. Two of the ships belonged to Mr. Cradock, 
The Governor had the care of Mr. Cradock's men, and, as 
soon as possible after his arrival, searched for the best 
place wherein to employ them. His choice fell on Mystic, 
probably on the seventeenth day of June ; and so rapidly 
did our young plantation thrive, that, on the 28th of Sep- 



4^. , HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

tembcr (only three months afterwards), Medford was taxed 
three pounds for the support of mihtary teachers. 

Nov. 30, 1630, another tax of three pounds was levied. 
Thus Medford became a part of " London's Plantation in 
Massachusetts Bay." Twelve ships had brought, within a 
year, fifteen hundred persons ; and Medford had a large 
numerical share. The running streams of fresh water in 
our locality were a great inducement to English settlers ; 
for they thought such streams indispensable. In 1630, they 
would not settle in Roxbury "because there was no run- 
ning water." In Charlestown (1630) the "people grew 
discontented for want of water, who generally notioned 
no water good for a town but running springs." Medford, 
at the earliest period, became that anomalous body politic 
called a town, creating its own government, and electing 
its own officers. 

Careful provisions were made by the London Company 
for the allotment of land. At the meeting in London, 
March 10, 1628-29, the Court say, — 

" This clay beinj^j appointed to take into consideration touching the 
division of the lands in New England, where our first plantation shall 
be, it was, after much debate, thought fit to refer this business to the 
Governor (Cradock), and a committee to be chosen to that purpose to 
assist him ; and, whatsoever they shall do therein, that to stand for 
good." 

At the Court of Assistants, held in London, May 21, 
1629, it was ordered : — 

"That two hundred acres of land be by them allotted to each 
adventurer for fifty pounds' adventure in the common stock, and ac- 
cording to tliat proportion, for more or less, as the adventure is ; to 
the intent that they may build their houses and improve their lands 
thereon. It is further fit and orileied, that all such as go over there 
in person, or send over others at their charge, and are adventurers in 
the common stock, sliall liave lands (tifty acres) allotted unto them for 
each person they transport to inhabit the plantation, as well servants 
as all others." 

May 28, 1629: In the "second general letter" the Court 
said, — 

"We have further taken into our consideration the fitness and con- 
veniency, or rather necessity, of making a dividend of land, and allot- 
ting a proportion to each adventurer ; and to this purpose have made 
and confirmed an Act, and sealed the same with our common seal." 

The court above named was that of the London Com- 
pany, organized under the royal authority, with powers to 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 45 

settle plantations, etc. ; and the five undertakers in that 
enterprise were Gov. Winthrop, Dcputy-Gov. Dudley, Sir 
Richard Saltonstall, Isaac Johnson, Esq , and Mr. Revil. 

With the Governor and Mr. Cradock's men, many, doubt- 
less, were glad to associate themselves, because something 
like a definite organization already existed among them. 
The elements of power and prosperity seemed to be with 
them ; and we can imagine our first settlers beginning 
their eventful experiment with an assured confidence in its 
happy result. Although, in the letter of Gov. Dudley to 
the Countess of Lincoln, we find traces of discouragement 
in view of the obstacles which the first settlers encoun- 
tered, yet he gave his co-laborers just credit for courage 
and enterprise, by saying of them, "They who had health 
to labor fell to building;" and, as we peruse the scanty 
records of their first endeavors, we see that they must have 
been energetic and determined men. As we look back to 
the first days and years of our township, we see, with our 
mind's eye, the lofty forest falling by the woodman's axe, 
and anon taking its place as material for the huts or log- 
houses which were the only shelter from the fast approach- 
ing cold ; and we know, that, however dark were some of 
the shadows that fell across their path, the light which 
their mighty blows let into the openings which they cleared 
in the forest gradually dispelled the gloom, and filled them 
with ever-increasing hope. 

It has been well said by a high British authority, that 
"the first settlers of New England wqxq picked vwn,'" and 
the remark will hold good of the little community which 
settled here. In the minute accounts which have come 
down to us, there is no mention of treachery, idleness, or 
dissipation. If any violation of good neighborhood, or civil 
law, or gospel morality, had existed, we should' certainly 
have heard of it ; for every man was emphatically his 
brother's keeper, and was Argus-eyed to detect the offender, 
and Briarean-handed to clutch him. We therefore confi-' 
dently infer, that they who had concluded to make this place 
their home were men of character, and uncompromising 
Puritans, — men whose courage dared to meet the panther 
and the tomahawk, and whose piety inspired them with a 
steadfast faith in Him who had so graciously sustained them 
through all their afflictions. 

The care which the English Company exercised over 
those who came to settle here may be more than inferred 



46 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

by that company's directions, dated April 17, 1629, in 
which is the following most excellent suggestion : — 

" Our earnest desire is, that you take special care in settling these 
families, that the chief in the family (at least some of them) be 
grounded in religion ; whereby morning and evening family duties 
may be duly performed, and a watchful eye held over all in each 
family, by one or more in each family to be appointed thereto, that 
so disorders may be prevented, and ill weeds nipt before they take too 
great a head." 

The early histories tell of many, in other places, who 
became dissatisfied with their first choice, and moved to 
more j^romising localities ; but not a word of complaint 
reaches us from the first planters of INIedford, and no one, 
to our knowledge, left the plantation. They brought with 
them the animus manendi. 

To show how fast the settlement went on, it is said, 
under date of Oct. 30, 1631, that '• the Governor erected a 
building of stone at Mistick." The houses of the first 
settlers were fortified by palisades, thought to be a very 
necessary defence of themselves and their cattle against 
the nocturnal attacks of wild beasts and savages. It was 
not uncommon for a plantation to unite in building a stone 
or brick house, into which they could retire for the night, 
or escape from the Indians. In Medford were built three 
of these strong brick citadels, two of which yet stand. 
Josselyn speaks of the town in 1638 as "a scattered vil- 
lage." We suppose that the three "forts," or brick houses, 
were placed conveniently for the protection of all the in- 
habitants. If so, the first settlers occupied the land near 
the river, on its north bank, from the old brick house on 
Ship Street to the west brick house now standing behind 
the house of the late Gov. Brooks. But soon the popu- 
lation stretched westward to Mystic Pond ; and, when the 
inhabitants came to build their first meeting-house, they 
found the central place to be " Rock Hill," and there they 
"built it. 

During the winter of 1630-31 the anxiety of Medford's 
first inhabitants must have been very painful ; for a writer 
in that year says, — 

"The scarcity of grain is great; every bushel of wheat-meal, 14.?. 
sterling, every bushel of peas, loj., and not easy to be procured 
either." 

But the crops of 1631 were most abundant. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 47 

It was necessary to take proper precautions aj^ainst the 
intrusion of interlopers. The Court of Assistants, Sept. 7, 
1630, made the following regulation : — 

"It is ordered that no person shall plant in any place within the 
limits of this patent, without leave from the Governor and assistants, 
or the major part of them." 

Gov. Winthrop felt too deep an interest in his near 
neighbors to allow any infringement of this law ; and the 
first planting of Medford was thus singularly auspicious 
under the supervision of the illustrious chief magistrate, 
called the "American Nehemiah," and by the more effec- 
tual patronage of the richest member of the company. 
Its numbers and prosperity increased while Mr. Cradock 
lived ; but, when his interest was removed, they learned 
by a too sad experience how much his friendship and finan- 
cial aid had been worth to them. 

How titles to estates were obtained in those times is a 
matter of solid interest, and it is cause for local pride that 
not a foot of land was taken from the Indians by force. 
Every acre of our township was fully and satisfactorily paid 
for, as will be shown elsewhere. Having thus honorably 
come into possession, the question was. How can ownership 
be legally secured } That question was answered by the 
following most important order of the General Court, under 
date of April i, 1634: — 

" It is ordered that the constable, and four or more of the chief 
inhabitants of every town (to be chosen by all the freemen there, at 
some m.eeting there), with the advice of some one or more of the next 
assistants, shall make a survey of the houses backside, cornfields, 
mowing-ground, and other lands, improved or enclosed, or granted by 
special order of the Court, of every free inhabitant there, and shall 
enter the same in a book (fairly written in words at length, and not in 
figures), with the several bounds and quantities, by the nearest esti- 
mation, and shall deliver a transcript thereof into the Court within six 
months now next ensuing ; and the same, so entered and recorded, 
shall be sufficient assurance to every such free inhabitant, his and their 
heirs and assigns, of such estate of inheritance, or as they shall have 
in any such houses, lands, or frank-tenements." 

But, before the order could be executed, the lands of the 
several settlers had to be parcelled out and located, and 
this was done by seven wise and prudent men selected by 
the town ; which work, thus directed by the corporation, 
was confirmed by the same authority. 

The first settlers came to Medford in June, 1630. The 



48 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

p^rant of land to Mr. Cradock was March 4, 1634. Here, 
therefore, were ahiiost four years in which the first-comers 
were gatherinp^ and settling, before Mr. Cradock came into 
possession. His prosperous company would naturally in- 
duce others to come here ; and when they had thus settled 
they would form a government ; and, when all these things 
were done, it would not be policy for Mr. Cradock to disturb 
or remove such friends. For more than three years they 
labored on the land, and made an agricultural beginning, 
confirmed by Mr. Cradock. In his letter he gives special 
charge concerning all such ; that every thing be done for 
their safety and comfort. These were the fathers of Med- 
ford. 1633, an historian says of thecolonists, " Although 
they were in such great straights for food, that many of 
them ate their bread by weight, yet they did not faint in 
spirit." Gov. Winthrop, Sept. 9, 1630, says, "It is enough 
that we shall have heaven, though we pass through hell to 
it." 

As soon as Gov. Winthrop had settled himself on the 
Ten Hill Farm, in 1630, he recommended Gov. Cradock's 
men to plant themselves directly op[:)Osite him on the north 
side of the river. They did so. A promontory there, jut- 
ting towards the south into the marsh, was the only safe place 
then to build upon. It is about sixty rods south-east of the 
ancient house standing on the farm belonging to the heirs 
of James and Isaac Wellington, now known as "Welling- 
ton." The marshes stretch away from this promontory on 
every side except the north, where it joins the mainland. 
On its highest point they built the first house erected in 
Meciford. This was in July, 1630. Thirty years ago there 
were persons living who knew an old lady, named Blan- 
chard, who was born in that house. It was probably a log- 
house, of large dimensions, with a small deep cellar, having 
a chimney of bricks laid in clay. The cellar was walled up 
with stone, and has been destroyed but a few years. The 
bricks, very similar to those in Gov. Cradock's mansion- 
house, were removed years ago ; but on the 25th of April, 
1855, some of them were collected as souvenirs, and are 
preserved by Medford antiquarans. 

Names of Some of Medford' s Earliest Freeholders. — How 
many of the first settlers became freemen, we shall not know 
until the lost records of Medford are discovered. We find 
the following Medford names among the list of freemen 
between i630andi646: Nathaniel Bishop, Thomas Reeves, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



49 



John Collins, Jonathan Porter, Richard Bishop, Thomas. 
Brooke, John Waite, William Manning, John Hall, Richard: 
Francis, William Blanchard, Henry Simonds, Zachery Fitch,, 
Richard Wade, Richard Bugbe, John Watson, Abraham. 
Newell, Henry Brooke, Gamaliel Wayte, Hezekiah Usher, 
Thomas Bradbury, Richard Swan, John Howe, Edmund 
Angier, Thomas Oakes, Hugh Pritchard. 

In the county records we find the following names of 
men represented as at Medford : — 



George Felt 
James Noyes 
Richard Berry . 
Thomas Mayhew 
Benjamin Crisp 
James Garrett . 
John Smith , . 
Richard Cooke . 
Josiah Dawstin . 

Dix . . 

Ri. Dexter . . 
Wilham Sargent 
James Goodnow 
John Martin 
Edward Convers 
Goulden Moore 
Robert Burden 
Richard Russell 
Thos. Shephard 
Thos. Danforth 
Thomas Greene 
James Pemberton 
Joseph Hills 



633 
634 
636 
636 
636 

637 
63cS 
640 
641 
641 
644 
648 
650 
650 
650 
654 

655 
656 

658 
659 
659 
662 



Jonathan Wade 








1668 


Edward Collins 








1669 


John Call . . . 








1669 


Daniel Deane . 








1669 


Samuel Hayward 








1670 


Caleb Brooks . 








1672 


Daniel Markham 








1675 


John Whitmore 








167S 


John Greenland 








1678 


Daniel Woodward 








1679 


Isaac Fox . . 








1679 


Stephen Willis . 








16S0 


Thomas Willis . 








1680 


John Hall . . 








1680 


Gersham Swan . 








1684 


Joseph Angier . 








1684 


John Bradshaw. 








1685 


Stephen Francis 








1685 


Peter Tufts . . 








1 686 


Jonathan Tufts 








1690 


John Tufts . . 








1690 


Simon Bradstreet 








1695 



The following persons owned lands in Medford before 
1680: — 



William Dady. 
Rob. Broadick. 
Mrs. Anne Higginson. 
Caleb Hobart. 
John Palmer. 
Nicholas Davidson. 



Increase Nowell. 
Zachary Symmes. 
John Betts. 
Jotham Gibons. 
Richard Stilman. 
Mrs. Mary Eliot. 



Matliezv Cradock. — Gov. Cradock, although he never 
came to this country, took an important part in the opera- 
tions of the London Company, and no other man was so 
helpful as he to the early settlers of Medford. Indeed, 
Medford owes its early prosperity, and we may almost say 
its settlement, more largely to him than to any other man. 
He was the richest member of the New-England Company, 



so 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



.-and he spent his money in promoting its interests with all 
the liberahty of an enthusiast. 

We first hear of him as a distinguished merchant in the 
(city of London, who took a deep interest in the Puritan 
cause, and who, for that reason, became active in promot- 
ing the settlement of New England. He lived in Swithin's 
Lane, London, near London Stone, and "had a furnished 
house at Rumford in Essex." He was instrumental in the 
iormation of J;he Company of Massachusetts Bay, and, in 
the petition for a charter, his was the foremost name ; and 
when the King (Charles I.,) granted the important boon, 
March 4, i628,^hc named Mathew Cradock as the first gov- 
ernor of the company. We are to understand by this that 
Mr. Cradock was governor of the company in its commercial 
capacity, and not its political head in America. 

In all 'subscriptions for aiding the company he gave the 
largest sum, and to him belonged the honor of moving, July 
28, 1629, to transfer the government of the Colony from 
London to New England. The reader cannot too soon 
appreciate what Gov. Cradock was to Medford in its earliest 
days, and we set down in this place a few facts that should 
reflect the honor of his name to the latest generations of 
our posterity. 

As already stated, two of the ships that sailed with the 
"Arbella" belonged to him ; and while his men — fisher- 
men, coopers, and shipwrights — came over in those vessels, 
it is almost certain that most of those who settled in Med- 
ford at the first came with Mr. Cradock's men from Suffolk 
and Esse.x. He did all he could to get the ships in readi- 
ness to sail. He was first on the committee that apportioned 
the lands, and thus decided where the first settlements 
should be. He was on board the "Arbella" the morning 
the fleet set sail {Easter Monday, 1630) ; and the captain 
gave him " three shots out the steerage," when he went 
back to land, for a farewell. 

This man, zealous, honored, wise, and good, may be 
regarded as the founder of Medford ; and the following 
extracts from a letter he wrote to John Endicott, then 
already in America, show the deep religious feeling of the 
man. After writing of what he would have done for the 
temporal welfare of the adventurers, he said, — 

We are very confident of your best endeavors for the general good ; 
and we doubt not but God will in mercy give a blessing upon our 
labors ; and we trust you will not bo unmindful of the main end of our 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 51 

plantation, by endeavoring to bring the Indians to the knowledge of 
the gospel, wliicli that it may be speedier and better effected, the 
earnest desire of our whole company is, that you have diligent and watch- 
ful eye over our own people; that they live unljlamable and without 
reproof, and demean themselves justly and courteous towards tlie 
Indians, thereby to draw them to affect our persons, and consequently 
our religion ; as also to endeavor to get some of their children to train 
up to reading, and consequently to religion, while they are young : 
herein, to young or old, to omit no good opportunity that may tend to 
bring them out of that woful state and condition they now are in; in 
which case our predecessors in this our land sometimes were, and, but 
for the mercy and goodness of our good God, might have continued to 
this day ; but God, who out of the boundless ocean of his mercy hath 
showed pity and compassion to our land, he is all sufficient and can 
bring this to pass which we now desire in that country likewise. Only 
let us not be wanting on our parts, now we are called to this work of 
the Lord ; neither, having put our hands to the plough, let us look back, 
but go on cheerfully, and depend upon God for a blessing ui^on our 
labors, who, by weak instruments, is able (if he see it good) to bring 
glorious things to pass. 

Be of good courage, go on, and do worthily, and the Lord prosper 
your endeavor. 

And now, minding to conclude this, I may not omit to put you in 
mind, however you seem to fear no enemies there, yet that 3-ou have a 
watchful eye for your own safety, and the safety of all those of our 
nation with you, and not to be too confident of the fidelity of the sav- 
ages. It is an old proverb, yet as true, the burnt child dreads tJie fire. 
Our countrvmen have suffered by their too much confidence in Virginia. 
Let us by their harms learn to beware ; and as we are commanded to 
be innocent as doves, so withal we are enjoined to be wise as serpents. 
The God of heaven and earth preserve and keep you from all foreign 
and inland enemies, and bless and prosper this plantation to the en- 
largement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, to whose merciful protection 
I commend vou and all your associates there, known or unknown. And 
so, till mv next, which shall be (God willing) by our ships, who I make 
account will be ready to set sail from hence about the 20th of this next 
month of March, I end, and rest, 

Your assured loving friend and cousin, 

Mathew Cradock. 



These extracts show the deep enthusiasm of Mr. Cradock 
in the New-England enterprise. He went into it heart 
and purse. He adopted Medford as his headquarters ; and 
here he made his first settlement, here opened his business 
of ship-building and fishing, and here placed an agent to 
execute his plans. The most sagacious and wealthy mer- 
chant of the company could not have made a wiser choice. 
To Medford he directed his thoughts, in Medford he ex- 
pended his money, and for the prosperity of Medford he 
devoutly prayed. Our infant town could not have had a 
better father. 



52 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



After his decease, Mr. Nicholas Davison, his mercantile 
assent, petitioned the General Court, in the name of Mrs. 
Ci-adock, to pay to her a sum which she claimed from the 
Colony, amounting; to £6']6. The Court, always mindful 
of the' interests of the Colony, replied that " the govern- 
ment were never concerned in Mr. Cradock's adventure," 
and therefore could not allow any such claim. Another 
attempt was made in 1670, and met with a similar fate. 
It was not long afterwards that the General Court took 
into consideration the munificent "disbursement of Mr. 
Cradock in planting the Colony," and resolved to show 
their grateful estimate of his worth, and accordingly gave 
his widow, then Mrs. Whitchcot, one thousand acres of 
land, and she relinquished all further rights. 

As stated on a previous page. Gov. Winthrop advised 
Cradock's men where to locate ; and it was three years 
after the first of them settled on his lands, before they 
were confirmed to him by the London Company, of which 
he was the wealthiest member. They had unbounded con- 
fidence in him, and while they went forward to clear farms, 
and organize a town, before they had personal titles to the 
land they held by pre-emption, he preserved all their rights, 
and in the final adjustment gave every man the benefit of 
the improvements he had made. 

For several years his vast estates, upon which he was 
taxed by the town and county, made the burdens that fell 
upon others very light. 

In proof of this gentleman's profound attachment to the 
Puritan enterprise, we will here quote a few sentences 
from the " First Letter of the Governor and Deputy of 
the New-England Company for a Plantation in Massa- 
chusetts Bay, to the Governor and Council for London's 
Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay, in New England." 
April 17, 1629: Many men, and various articles for trade 
and use, having been sent from London, the letter says, — 

" We pray you give all good accommodation to our present gov- 
ernor, Mr. Mathcw Cradock, who. with some particular brethren of the 
company, have deeply engaged themselves in their private adventures 
in these ships, and those to come ; and as we hold these men, that thus 
deeply adventure in their private, to be (under God) special instruments 
for the advancing and strengthening of the plantation, which is done by 
them without any charge to the company's general stock, wherein, not- 
withstanding, they are as deep or deeper engaged than any other." 

The following items from the public records show some- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 53 

thing of the estimation in which Mr. Cradock was held in 
this colony : — 

"At a General Court held at Boston, March 4, 1633, the following 
grant was made : ' The Wear at Mistick is granted to John Winthrop, 
Esq., present governor, and to Mr. Mathew Cradock of London, to 
enjoy to them and their heirs forever.' 

"March 26, 1638; There is a grant of a thousand acres of land, 
granted to Mr. Mathew Cradock, where it may be had without preju- 
dice to any plantation, or former grants, in the judgment of the Court. 
Also there is granted to Mr. Cradock five hundred acres of land more 
for such servants as he shall appoint it unto, twenty miles from any 
plantation, without prejudice to any plantation. 

"June 2, 1641 : Mr. Thomas Alayhew and Mr. Joseph Cooke ap- 
pointed to set out the five hundred acres of Mr, Oldham's for Mr. 
Cradock, near Mount Feake. 

" On the same day: Voted that Mr. Cradock's rates should be fore- 
borne till the next ship come, and then it is referred to Mr. Stoughton 
and Mr. Hawthorne, to consider and give order in it." 

The reader may now be referred to what is said in 
another chapter concerning Mr. Cradock's agency in build- 
ing the first bridge over Mystic River ; and, putting those 
facts with these here stated, we come at the conclusion 
that Medford should cherish with gratitude the memory of 
one who opened here a new and extensive trade, who sent 
over many men as laborers in ship-building and fishing, 
and who rendered the greatest service to the first settlers 
in furnishing them with the means of self-support. He 
holds an honorable place among the founders of the plan- 
tations in Massachusetts, men of great practical wisdom, 
who, whatever may have been their ideas concerning the 
establishment of a theocratic commonwealth in the New 
World, at no time seemed to forget that Providence was 
likely to furnish the most efficient aid to those who were 
most active in helping themselves. 

Of Mr. Cradock's influence upon the early fortunes of 
Medford, and the results which followed its withdrawal, 
Savage, the able editor of " Winthroj^'s Journal," says, — 

"Of so flourishing a town as Medford, the settlement of which had 
been made as early as that of any other, except Charlestown, in the 
bay, it is remarkable that the early history is very meagre. From sev- 
eral statements of its proportion of the public charges in the colony 
rates, it must be concluded that it was, within the first eight years, 
superior in wealth, at different times, to Newbun,-, Ipswich, Hingham, 
and Weymouth, all ancient towns. . . . Yet the number of people was 
certainly small; and the weight of the tax was probably borne by the 
property of Gov. Cradock, there invested for fishing and other jiurposes. 
When that establishment was withdrawn, the town languished many 
years." 



54 HISTORY OF .}fEDFORD. 

We know of only one relative of Mr. Cradock who came 
to this country, and his name was George Cradock, men- 
tioned by Douglas and Hutchinson as an inhabitant of 
Boston. 

We cannot better close the notice of Medford's founder 
and friend than by giving a copy of his will : — 

Last Will and Testament of Matheiv Cradock. 

I, Mathew Cradock of London, merchant, being in perfect memory 
and bodily health, — thanks be given to God therefor, — do hereby 
make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and 
form following; that is to say, — 

I bequeath my soul into the hands of the Almighty God, trusting, 
by the merits of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ only, 
to obtain remission of all my sins. My body, when it shall please 
God to separate it from my soul, I recommend to the earth, in as- 
sured confidence of a glorious resurrection at the great and dreadful 
day of judgment. 

As to my outward estate, wherewith God of his goodness hath 
endowed me, I have ever accounted myself but a steward thereof ; 
therefore humblv entreat the Almighty to enable me so to demean 
myself in disposing thereof as that I may, through his mercy in the 
merits of Christ, be always prepared to give a comfortable account of 
my stewardship. 

I do hereby order, in the first place, that all sure debts as are, 
any manner of way, justly due and owing to any person whatsoever, 
be truly and fully satisfied and paid : the accounts of the widow of 
Stephen Benister, late of London, cloth-worker, deceased, that the same 
be answered and (committed) to the use of my executors ; and for 
dealing with one Henry Colthirst, if Mr. Pennoyde, who is best ac- 
quainted with the business, see it to be due, which is challenged, 
I order it to be answered with consideration for the time, all just 
debts paid. The remainder of my estate I give and bequeath as 
followeth : — 

To the poor of the parish of St. Peter's, the poor in Broad Street, 
where I served my apprenticeship, forty pounds sterling; to the poor 
of St. Swithin's, where I dwelled, one hundred pounds, to be emploved 
as a stock for their use, and the benefit thereof to be distributed 
yearly at the discretion of the greater number in the vestry. This to 
be taken out of the third part'of my estate, which, by the custom of 
the city of London, is at my own disposing. 

One-third part of my whole clear estate, my debts being paid and 
satisfied, I give and bequeath to my precious, dear, and loving wife, 
Rebcccah Cradock; one other third part of my estate, according to 
the ancient custom of the city of London, I do" give to my daughter 
Damaris, and to such other child or children as it shall please God to 
give me by my wife Rebeccah. Moreover, I do give and bequeath to 
my said dear and loving wife all my household stuff and plate at my 
house in London, where I dwell, and at a house I hold at Rumford, 
in Essex, as also the lease of my dwelling-house in London. Onb-, 
out of my plate and household stuff aforesaid, I give to my said 
daughter Damaris to the value of fifty pounds, in such particulars as 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 55 

my said wife shall order and appoint the same. Moreover, I do give 
to my loving wife aforesaid, to be by her enjoyed during her natural 
life, the one^half of all the estate I now have or shall have in New 
England, in America, at the time of my decease ; and, after the de- 
cease of my wife as aforesaid, I do give and bequeath the moiety of 
my movables and immovables hereby intended to be enjoyed by my 
wife during her natural life, unto my brother, Samuel Cradock, and 
his heirs niale. And for the other moiety of my estate in New Eng- 
land aforesaid, I hereby give and bequeath the same to my daughter 
Damaris and the issue of her body, to be lawfully begotten ; and, for 
want of such issue, to my said brother Samuel, and his heirs male 
aforesaid. And my will is, that when my wife shall marr\', that in 
such case her then intended husband, before their marriage, shall 
become bound to my said brother and his heirs in five thousand 
pounds of lawful money of England not to sell away or alienate any 
part of the moiety of my lands hereby intended and bequeathed to my 
wife, and subsequently to him, during her natural life, and that he 
shall have at the time of her decease in personal estate therefor my 
brother and his heirs to enjoy after the decease of my said wife at 
least for the full value of five hundred pounds sterling in movable 
goods. And whosoever shall marry my daughter Damaris, I do 
hereby will and order, that, before marriage, he likewise shall enter 
into like bond, with the like covenants and conditions; in case my 
said daughter depart this life without issue, or either of the parties 
before m'entioned, both or either of them, hereby enjoined to seal 
the said several bond, which shall refuse or neglect to do the same, 
or to deliver the said bond or bonds to my brother or his heirs then 
being, in legal and lawful manner, I do hereby declare, that, imme- 
diately from and after such marriage respectively, the moiety of the 
estate hereby intended to the party so marrying, and not giving the 
bond as aforesaid, shall l)e, and I do hereby bequeath the same to my 
said brother Samuel and his heirs, any thing before mentioned to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

Moreover, I do give to my brother, Samuel Cradock, and my sister, 
his wife, five hundred pounds; and to every one of the children of my 
said brother I do give one hundred pounds. Moreover, to his son 
Samuel, now student in Emanuel, in Cambridge, I do give for his 
maintenance for three years forty pounds per annum ; and to his son 
Mathew, for his better 'preferment, whereby to place him with an able 
merchant, two hundred pounds. And I do give twenty pounds yearly 
to my said brother Samuel towards the maintenance of my brother and 
sister Sawyer ; and to my sister, after the decease of her husband, I 
do give two hundred pounds. Item: To Dorothy Sawyer, daughter 
to my said sister Sawyer, I give, for her better preferment, in case she 
will be advised by my wife in her marriage, two hundred pounds : and 
to the rest of mv sister Sawver's children I do give to every of them 
fifty pounds. To my maid-servants five pounds every of them. Item : 
To my partners that ventured with me and were my servants and 
partv-venturers in the East-land trade, namely, to Thomas Hodlow 
and Edward Lewis, six hundred pounds apiece, if they accept of it for 
their part, and declare themselves willing thereunto within three 
months after the publishing of this my Will, or else to have their 
several equal one-eighth part of the clear profits of the trade aforesaid, 
from the time that I promised the same, till the amount for the same 



56 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

shall be perfected, which is to be done by their help and endeavors. 
Item: I do desire and entreat Mr. William Corbine to assist my wife 
aforesaid, whom I make sole executor of this my last Will and Testa- 
ment, to get in my estate, and to see my debts paid and my Will per- 
formed. 

Given as my act, last Will, and Testament, this 9th day of Novem- 
ber, 1640. Mathew Ckadock. 

Witness hereto : Edward Lewis, William Alney, Richard Howell. 

Entered and recorded the 12th of PY-bruary, 1642, by 

Thomas Danforth, 

Recorder. 

After his death, a part of his farm in Medford was sold 
to Mr. Ed. Collins, who pays to Mrs. Cradock ^^^120, to 
Samuel Cradock and Sons ^100, and to Damaris Cradock 
and her husband ^230. The condition attached to his be- 
quest to his niece, Miss Dorothy Sawyer, is proof that he 
had a wise-judging wife, and that his wife had a provident 
husband. 

There has been some question as to the time of Mr. 
Cradock's death. We have the following record to show 
that he died in 1641. In the obituary of Richard Smith, 
published by the Camden Society in 1849, this item ap- 
pears : — 

" Mathew Cradock, merchant, one of the members of Parliament 
for ye city of London, died May 27th, 1641." 

This seems in harmony with other facts ; for in 1641 
deeds are found from his agent, and in the next year from 
his executor. 

The estate of Mr. Cradock was disposed of after his 
death ; and some account of the various transactions in 
connection therewith will be interesting to the reader, 
and help to a correct idea of the magnitude of his planta- 
tion. 

Mr. Cradock's widow, Rebecca, married Richard Gltn^er, 
who, March i, 1644, rented to Edward Collins one-half of 
his land "in Medford in New England;" viz., "houses, 
edifices, buildings, barns, stables, out-houses, lands, tene- 
ments, meadows, pastures, findings, woods, highways, prof- 
its, commodities, and appurtenances." 

Mr. Cradock's widow married her third husband. Rev. 
Benjamin Whitchcot, D.D., in 1652. Damaris, Mr. Cra- 
dock's daughter, married Thomas Andrews, leather-seller, 
of London. Samuel his brother was clerk of Thistleton, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 57 

and had three sons. By instruments dated June 2 and 
Sept. 6, 1652, they quit-claim to Mr. Collins "all that 
messuage, farm, or plantation, called Meadford in New 
England " by them owned. 

Aug. 20, 1656 : Mr. Collins, after residing twelve years 
on his farm in Medford, sells to Richard Russell of 
Charlestown sixteen hundred acres of it, with his man- 
sion-house and other buildings. This tract was bounded 
by Mystic River on the south, by Charlestown line on the 
north, by trees standing near a brook on the west, and by 
tne farms of Nowell and others on the east. "Collins 
covenants to save Russell harmless from all claims from 
the heirs of Cradock, unto whom the said plantation was 
first granted " by the court. No specification is given of 
the number of "cattle" or of "tenements." Mr. Collins 
deeded other portions of his farm to other parties ; but we 
need not follow that transaction. 

May 25, 1661 : Richard Russell, who had occupied the 
"mansion-house" five years, sold it, with twelve hundred 
acres of his land, to Jonathan Wade, who lived near the 
bridge on the south side of the river. After the death of 
Mr. Russell, his heirs sold three hundred and fifty acres 
to Mr. Peter Tufts. The deed is dated April 20, 1677. 
This tract is now the most thickly settled part of Med- 
ford. 

Land and Land-Owners in Medford. — The value of real 
estate from 1655 to 1675 may be learned from transac- 
tions that were placed on record at that time. 

Oct. 20, 1656 : James Garrett, captain of the ship 
" Hope," sells for five pounds, to Edward Collins, "forty 
acres of land on the north side of Mistick River, butting 
on Mistick Pond on the west." 

March 13, 1657: Samuel Adams sells "to Ed. Collins 
forty acres of land, bounded on the east by Zachariah 
Symmes, south by Meadford Farm, on the south and west 
by James Garrett." Paid ten pounds. 

March 13, 1675 : Caleb Hobart sells to Ed. Collins, "for 
jQ66o, five hundred acres in Meadford, bounded by Charles- 
town northerly, Mistick River southerly, Mr. Wade's land 
easterly, and Brooks's and Wheeler's lands westerly." 

Edward Collins, Richard Russell, Jonathan Wade, and 
Peter Tufts were the largest land-owners in Medford, after 
Mr. Cradock's decease, and they laid out small farms and 
lots, and made many sales. Collins, who lived in Med- 



58 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



ford a long time, was perhaps the first specimen of a 
genuine land-speculator in the Massachusetts Colony. 
Mr. Tufts had a numerous family, and left an honored 
name. 

There were but few of the Wades, but they were rich 
and influential ; while little is known of the descendants of 
Richard Russell. 

Jonathan Wade paid the highest tax for several years, 
and dealt largely in lands, not only in Medford, but in other 
towns. The records show that in 1656 he purchased four 
hundred acres of Matthew Avery, then a freeholder in 
Ipswich, but was outdone the same year by Mr. Collins, 
who sold to Richard Champney five hundred acres in 
Billerica, and who in 1660 sold four hundred acres in 
West Medford. 

Dealing in real estate was the most important business 
transacted by our early fathers. As a specimen of their 
greed for large estates, we give a list of purchases by Mr. 
Peter Tufts, chiefly on " Mystic Side : " — 



1664, June 22. 



1674, 
1677, 
1679, 
1681, 
1682, 



1684, 

1685, 
1687, 
1691, 
1693, 
1694, 



1695, 
1696, 

1697, 

1698, 



Sept. 28 
April 20 
Nov. 16. 
Sept. 20 
Feb. 3 
May 18 

" 29 
Dec. 22 
June 8 
Dec. 13 
June 20 
April 21 
Oct. 5 
Aug. 20 
May 17 

" 18 

" 31 
Aug. 23 
April 23 
Nov. 3 
Dec. 8 
April 15 
A I ay 10 
May 30 
Nov. 25 



Bought of Parmelia Nowell 200 acres. 

" " " " commons, 24 " 

" " Benjamin Bunker . . 17 cow-commons. 

" " Richard Russell 350 acres. 

" " A. Shadwell 32 

" " S. Rowse 32 

" " John Green 6 

" " Alexander Stewart 11 

" " M. Dady 10 

" " L. Hamond 8J 

" " Christopher Goodwin .... 16 

" " Isaac Johnson . . . . i cow-common. 

" " Wm. Dady 3 cow-commons. 



. . . 3 acres. 

4 cow-commons. 

. . loi acres. 



J. Frost .... 
J. Lynde .... 

T. Crosswell 3 " 

J. Phipps io4 " 

W. Dady 2 " 

J. Newell jo^ " 

John Melvin 7| " 

John Gary (Walnut Tree Hill) . 3^ " 
Timothy (loodwin .... three pieces 

John Dexter 9 acres 

John Frothingham 10^ " 

John Blaney 7 " 



Including the cow-commons, about 



S3 5 acres. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 59 

During this time, they sold as follows : — 

1680, Jan. 30. To S. Grove, in Maiden 20 acres. 

l69i,Feb. 22. To Jonathan Tufts, brick-yards 39 " 

1697, Jan. 10. To Jonathan Wade, in Medford .... 12^ " 

Mr. Peter Tufts, born in England, i6i7,\vas the father 
of the Tufts family in Medford. He died May 13, 1700, 
aged eighty-three. He was buried in Maiden, where his 
tomb may now be seen. 

An Indian squaw, the sachem of her tribe, had a great 
friendship for a family named Gibbon, and in 1637 gave 
to a lad of that family, named Jotham Gibbon, then only 
four years old,^a portion of land in Medford, the deed to 
which was perfect in all respects, as will be seen, when 
we shall treat of the lands of the Indians and their con- 
veyancing, in another chapter. In 1675, Mr. Collins, at 
the age of seventy-three years, was still engaged in specu- 
lations in real estate; for we learn that he then sold "a 
piece of land to Daniel Markham, bounded by the river 
on the south, by Joshua Brooks on the west and north, and 
by Caleb Hubbard on the east." He also sold the next 
year thirty acres to George l^lanchard. The " Blanchard 
Farm " was a large one, and is frequently mentioned in 
the records. 

Ancient Landmarks and MoxNUMents. — Medford is 
peculiarly rich in monuments of her early history, and es- 
pecially in ancient buildings ; and, as she has lost her 
earliest records made upon paper, it is all the more im- 
portant that the old landmarks be preserved as long as 
possible, and that the historian snatch them from the 
oblivion with which they are threatened, and cause them 
to appear upon the printed page, when future generations 
fail to find their corner-stones. From Pine Hill, south- 
westerly to Purchase Street, there are scattered remains 
of houses, now almost lost in the forest, which prove that 
there were living in this region many families. The cel- 
lars are, in some places so near together as to show quite 
a social neighborhood. When some of the " Scotch-Irish " 
who settled Londonderry, N.H., in 17 19, became dissatis- 
fied with that place, they came into this quarter, and many 
of them settled in Medford. They built some of the houses, 
whose cellars yet remain among us, and introduced the foot 
spinning-wheel and the culture of potatoes. They were as 
scrupulous about bounds and limits in these wilds as they 



6o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

had been in Scotland ; hence the remarkable stone walls 
which still stand to testify to their industry. They were 
Scotch Presbyterians in religion ; and the Rev. Mr. More- 
head of Boston frequently came to preach to them. Some 
of them migrated to the then District of Maine ; and fifty 
years ago there was living in Maine Gen. Jacob Auld, 
who was born about a mile north-east of Medford meeting- 
house, whose father was Irish, and left Londonderry about 
1730. These people kept up many of their European 
customs ; and tradition says, that once, when a young 
child died among them, they held a genuine " Irish wake." 
A few of these adventurers remained, and became good 
citizens ; and among their descendants we may name the 
Fulton, Wier, Faulkner, and McClure families. 

Gov. Cradock's House. — The old two-story brick house 
on Riverside Avenue, in East Medford, is one of the most 
precious relics of antiquity in New England. That it was 
built by Mr. Cradock, soon after the arrival of his company 
of carpenters, fishermen, and farmers, will appear from the 
following facts. 

The land on which it stands was given by the General 
Court to Mr. Cradock. When the heirs of Mr. Cradock 
gave a deed of their property, June 2, 1652, they mentioned 
houses, barns, and many other buildings, but did not so 
specify these objects as to render them cognizable by us. 
There is no deed of this house given by any other person, 
and it must have passed in the aforesaid conveyance by 
the Cradock heirs. 

It was on Mr. Cradock's land, and just where his busi- 
ness made it necessary : the conclusion, therefore, is inevi- 
table that Mr. Cradock built it. There is every reason to 
believe that it was commenced early in the spring of 1634. 
Mr. Cradock made such an outlay in money as showed that 
he intended to carry on a large business for a long time, 
and doubtless proposed visiting his extensive plantation. 
The very first necessity in such an enterprise was a suffi- 
cient house. The sooner it was finished, the better; and 
it was commenced as soon as the land was granted, which 
was March, 1634. Who, in that day, could afford to build 
such a house but the rich London merchant } and woulu 
he delay doing a work which every day showed to be in- 
dispensable .'' He was the only man, then, who had the 
funds to build such a house, and he was the only man 
who needed it. Tradition has always spoken of it as the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 6 1 

Cradock House. Taking all these circumstances into con- 
sideration, the inference is clear that the "Old P'ort," so 
called, was Gov. Cradock's house, built in 1634. It is an 
invaluable historical jewel. 

It has been called the " Fort " and the " Garrison House," 
because its walls were so thick, and because it had close out- 
side shutters and port-holes. 

It is certainly well placed for a house of defence. It is 
on land slightly elevated, where no higher land or rocks 
could be used by enemies to assail it, and is so near the 
river as to allow of re-enforcements from Boston. Its 
walls are eighteen inches thick. There were heavy iron 
bars across the two large arched windows, which are near 
the ground, in the back of the house ; and there are sev- 
eral fire-proof closets within the building. The house 
stood in an open field for a century and a half, and could 
be approached only by a private road through gates. As 
the outside door was cased with iron, it is certain that it 
was intended to be fire-proof. There was one pane of 
glass, set in iron, placed in the back wall of the western 
chimney, so as to afford a sight of persons coming from 
the town. 

It was probably built for retreat and defence ; but some 
of the reasons for calling it a fort are not conclusive. Out- 
side shutters were in common use in England at the time 
above mentioned ; and so was it common to ornament 
houses with round or oval openings on each side of the 
front. The ovals in this house are twenty inches by six- 
teen. Mr. Cradock's company was large, and he was very 
rich, and had told them to build whatever houses they 
needed for shelter and defence. That they should build 
such a house as now stands where their first settlement took 
place, is most natural. The bricks are not English bricks 
either in size, color, or workmanship. They are from eight 
to eight and a half inches long, from four to four and a 
quarter inches wide, and from two and a quarter to two and 
three-quarters thick. They have the color of the bricks 
made afterwards in East Medford, where clay is abundant. 
They are hastily made, but very well burned. Bricks were 
made in Salem in 1629. A Mr. Shedd purchased this 
house about eighty years ago, and he found the east end of 
it so decayed and leaky at that time, that he took a part 
of it down, and rebuilt it : otherwise it has undergone few 
changes. There is a tradition, that in early times Indians 



62 HISTORY OF MED FOR I). 

were discovered lurking around it for several days and 
nights, and that a skirmish took place between them and 
the white men ; but we have not been able to verify the 
facts, or fix the date. The park impaled by Mh Cradock 
probably mcluded this house. It is undoubtedly one of 
the oldest buildings in the United States, perhaps t/ic old- 
est that retains its first fonu. 

Another old brick house, built, probably, about the same 
time and by the same persons, was not large. It stood 
about five hundred feet north of Riverside Avenue, and 
about five hundred feet west of Park Street, opposite 
Thacher Magoun's shipyard, and was taken down many 
years ago by that gentleman. 

The third house was built by Major Jonathan Wade, 
who died 1689. It was sometimes called, like the other 
two, a "fort," and is yet standing in good repair, and 
used as a comfortable residence. It is seen from the main 
street as we look up Pasture-Hill Lane. Its walls are very 
thick, and it is ornamented with what have been called 
"port-holes." When first built, it was only half its pres- 
ent size : the addition was made by Benjamin Hall, about 
one hundred years ago. 

Of the three brick buildings mentioned above, and called 
forts, two have descended to us as specimens of ancestral 
architecture, and may well compare with any specimens 
left in the neighboring towns. They were doubtless 
erected for the purpose of habitation ; but the thought 
which gave them form and strength was begotten by the 
builders' fears. 

They were places of refuge from the Indians, and were 
doubtless necessary defences. Circumstances compelled 
the settlers to take counsel of their fears. Their condi- 
tion and wants were anticipated by the company in London 
as early as 1629, for in October of that year the following 
order was passed : — 

" That, for the charge of fortifications, the company's joint stock 
to 1)ear the one half, and the planters to defray the other ; viz., for 
ordnance, munition, powder, etc. But for laborers in buildin_2: of 
forts, etc., all men to be employed in an equal proportion, according- 
to the number of men upon the plantation, and so to continue until 
such tit and necessary works be linished." 

Any plantation disposed to build a place of retreat and 
defence was authorized by the above vote to do so, and to 
call upon the company to pay half the expense. Undoubt- 



O =13 




HISTORY OF MEDFORD. ^l 

edly, Mr. Cradock's house was so built. That forts were 
thought to be necessary appears from the records of 
Charlestown : — 

"1631 : It was concluded to build a fort on the hill at Moulton's 
Point, and mount the si.x guns left by the company last year upon the 
beach of this town, for defence, in case ships should come up on the 
back-side of Mistick River." 

The project was abandoned, because, on examination, it 
was found that a fort in that place would be too far away 
from the river. 

To illustrate the peril supposed to exist in the early 
settlement, we copy the following order of the General 
Court : — 

" Sept. 3, 1635 : It is agreed, that hereafter no dwelling-house shall 
be built above half a mile from the meeting-house, in any new planta- 
tion, without leave from the Court." 

The house of Col. Royal, on Main Street, was the most 
expensive in Medford. Built by his father, after the model 
of an English nobleman's house in Antigua, it has stood a 
tempting model to three generations. Mr. Thomas Sec- 
comb's large brick house, on the north side of the market- 
place, was the first copy of Col. Royal's. Rev. Mr. Turell's 
house, formerly owned by Jonathan Porter, is a good ex- 
ample of another style. The next fashion, introduced as 
an improvement upon these, was the broken or "gambrel- 
roofed " houses, many of which still remain. These soon 
gave place to the present models, which are importations 
from distant ages and all civilized countries. 




^^Cf^ 




tt.-c; 



Summer House, Royal Farm, 



64 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



CHAPTER III. 

ROADS, 

Ix the absence of the earliest records of Medford, the 
location of the first roads is conjectural ; and in lack of other 
information, wc are obliged to resort to deeds, wills, and 
legislative enactments, where incidental mention is made 
of them. 

The present Cradock Bridge is built at or near the same 
place where the " Ford " was located in the days of our 
fathers, and one of the first roads was through the sti^am 
at that point. At first it was little used, but afterwards 
became a popular way, not only for the inhabitants of Med- 
ford, but for those of the northern towns who took loads on 
horseback to Boston. 

If the earliest records of the town had been preserved, 
we should doubtless have found in them some notices of 
the Ford, and some regulations concerning it. 

We learn that in 1642 the General Court restricted the 
right of towns to build roads beyond their own boundaries. 
The act w^as as follows : — 

" It is declared by this Court, that the selected town's men have 
power to lay out particular and private ways concerning their own town 
only.'' 

TJic first public road laid out in Medford was Main 
Street, leading from the Ford to Boston ; the second was 
Salem Street, leading to Maiden ; the third was High 
Street, leading to Arlington ; the fourth was the road lead- 
ing to Stoneham. These sufficed for all necessary uses 
for half a century : indeed, we learn of no new public road 
opened after these for nearly a hundred years. But roads 
and streets were made from point to point for local pur- 
poses, and among them were the following. The road on 
the south bank of the river (South Street), connecting the 
brickyards w^ith the wharf and the lighters, was early 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 65; 

opened : it was known as "Fish Lane" until 1828, when 
it was called South Street. 

A road was made by Charlestown from the landing, called 
"No Man's Friend," opposite the southern end of Cross 
Street, to its lands north of Medford. The road was where 
Cross and Fulton Streets now are. Doubtless it was this 
act of making a road through a part of Medford by another 
town, which called for the restrictive Act just referred 
to. To gain free access to the river, at that time the great 
highway to Boston, private roads were opened for the use 
of the owners of land, and what were called " rangeways " 
for the free use of the public. Among these were Cross 
Street, already referred to. The next street west of it was 
at the Ford, and the " Pasture Hill " was a continuation 
of it. Another was at Rock Hill, and the old Woburn 
Road w-as a part of it. The next was above the Lowell 
Railroad Depot, in High Street, and connected with Grove 
Street, formerly called " the road round the woods." These 
roads to the river, in Medford, were opened soon after the 
main thoroughfare. 

In October, 1675, the town voted to levy a fine of ten 
shillings upon any one who should take a load of earth from 
a public road. 

The town also voted that every man might work out 
his own highway tax ; and prices were fixed for a day's, 
labor of a man, also what should be allowed to a man and 
his team. 

In 171 5 Rev. Aaron Porter, Peter Seccomb, Peter Waite, 
Thomas Tufts, and Benjamin Parker wished some enlarge- 
ment of the road near the bridge, they being residents 
there ; and the town appointed a committee to see about 
the matter. They fixed the width of the road at the bridge 
at two rods and twelve feet, and reported the road leading 
to Woburn "wide enough already." 

Feb. 20, 1746: Several gentlemen of Medford agreed to 
open a road from the market to " Wade's Bank, or Sandy 
Bank " (Cross Street), and build a bridge over " Gravelly 
Creek." This was done, and it made a convenient way to 
the tide-mill. 

The citizens of this town have always had a commenda- 
ble pride in every thing that could be made to contribute 
to its beauty and prosperity, and in nothing has this been 
seen more strikingly than in their work in planting and 
carins for their shade-trees. The streets of Medford are at 



66 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

the present time charmingly ornamented with fine elms, 
maples, horse-chestnuts, and other trees. 

No farm is complete without shade-trees on the sides 
of the road and in front of the dwelling ; and no village 
■or city has clearly comprehended its sweetest source of 
■external attraction if it has not beautified its streets with 
:trees. The citizens of Medford ai^preciated this fact early 
^in her history : and, more than half a century ago, the 
"" Delta," at the meeting of Grove and High Streets in 
West Medford, was set with trees which then could be 
carried in the hand by any man of ordinary strength, but 
which to day defy the tempests ; and, were they rooted, 
up, a hundred men could not carry one of them away. 
'These trees were planted, and the fences around them 
'built and kept in order, by Hon. Peter C. Brooks, whose 
memory, if no other jewels were hung about it, should be 
honored and fondly cherished for that one thoughtful act. 
His son, Mr. Edward Brooks, during his life, continued 
to care for them ; and his grandson, Mr. Francis Brooks, 
who occupies the old Brooks homestead, faithfully guards 
what his ancestor planted so many years ago. 

But Mr. Brooks was not the only man of those times 
whose heart was fixed on the work of beautifying the streets 
of Medford with trees. A legacy of five hundred dollars 
from Turell Tufts, Esq., was expended, according to his 
direction, in planting ornamental trees on the roadsides. 

Many others, since that time, have adorned their yards 
and lawns with various kinds of trees ; and the author of 
this history recalls the pleasant fact, that the trees around 
his residence, and on the street in front of the same, in 
West Medford, some of which are now eighteen inches 
in diameter, were planted by him when they were mere 
saplings. 

Streets in Medfordin 1882. — The following is a com- 
plete list of the names of streets in Medford at this time. 
Those marked with a star are still private ways, but will 
doubtless be accepted by the town at no distant day. 

Adams, Albion, Alfred,* Allen Court,* Allston, Allston- 
street Court, Almont, Ashland, Auburn, Avon,* Boston 
Avenue, Brooks, Brooks Place, Bowers, Canal, Central 
Avenue, Cherry,* Chestnut, College Avenue, Cottage,* 
Cotting, Court, Cross, Curtis,* Daisy,* Dexter, Dudley, 
Fountain, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Garden, George, 
Gove,* Grove, Emerson, Everett, Hadley Court,* Ham- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 67 

mond Place,* Hancock, Harvard, Harvard Avenue, High, 
Highland Avenue, High-street Court,* Irving, Jerome, 
Laurel,* Lawrence,* Lincoln,* Lincoln (in West Med- 
ford). Linden,* Madison, Main, Manning, Maple Avenue,* 
Medford, Middlesex Avenue, Myrtle, Mystic, Mystic 
Avenue, Oakland, Otis, Paris, Park, Pearl, Pleasant, 
Porter, Porter Court,* Prescott, Purchase, Revere Place,* 
Riverside Avenue, Arlington Court, Royal, Salem, Sharon, 
Sherman, South, South-street Court,* Spring, Stearns 
Avenue, Summer, Swan, Taintor, Tufts, Truro, Vernon, 
Vine,* Walnut, Warren, Washington, Washington Avenue, 
Water, Webster, West, Williams,* Winthrop, and Wo- 
burn. 

Medford Turnpike. — The construction of turnpikes in 
the early part of this century made a new era in travel- 
ling and in speculation all over New England. 

Medford had long felt the need of a thoroughfare to 
Boston more convenient for the transportation of heavy 
loads than the road over Winter Hill ; and on the 2d of 
March, 1803, the Medford Turnpike Company was incorpo- 
rated. This enterprise was started by citizens of Medford ; 
and Benjamin Hall, John Brooks, Fitch Hall, Ebenezer 
Hall, 2d, and Samuel Buel were the petitioners to the Le- 
gislature for a charter. The Act was obtained in three 
years from the time when the first movement was made, 
and it required them to run the road east of Winter Hill and 
Ploughed Hill. It must be three rods on the upland, 
and not more than six on the marsh. If not completed 
within three years, the grant was to be null and void. The 
corporation were required to build all extra bridges over 
Middlesex Canal, and keep them and the sluices in repair. 
They could hold real estate to the amount of six thousand 
dollars. Shares in the stock were deemed personal prop- 
erty. 

The investment was nevei" a very profitable one. A tax 
on travel is always unpopular, and the new road had a for- 
midable rival in the free highway over Winter Hill. The 
patronage of the road gradually fell away ; and its scanty 
income grew more and more insufificient for its proper 
maintenance, to say nothing of dividends. P^requent at- 
tempts, beginning as early as 1838, were made by the town 
to have it converted into a free road ; but they were suc- 
cessfully resisted by the corjioration. Finally, in 1865, the 
proprietors petitioned the Legislature for the dissolution 



68 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

of the corporation ; and the next year the turnpike was laid 
out as a public highway by the county commissioners. 

Andovcr Turnpike. — This road encountered the usual 
amount of opposition from those who saw that it would 
lead travel away from their houses, also from those who 
thought its passage through their farms would ruin them. 
But the saving of three miles' travel for loads of ship- 
timber and country produce was too great a gain of time, 
space, and money, to be relinquished without a struggle. 
The first projectors of the enterprise persevered, and 
subscriptions for stock were opened in 1804. Medford 
was largely interested in the enterprise ; and an act of incor- 
poration was obtained June 15, 1805, by Jonathan Porter, 
Joseph Hurd, Nathan Parker, Oliver Holden, and Fitch 
Hall. The route was designated in the Act. It was to 
run from the house of John Russell, in Andover, in an 
easterly direction, to the east of Martin's Pond, nearly on 
a straight line to the house of J. Nichols, in Reading, 
thence to Stoneham, by the west side, of Spot Pond, to the 
market-place in Medford. As usual, the cost was poorly 
estimated. More money was expended in the construc- 
tion of the road than was at first supposed necessary, and 
for this cause it did not prove to be remunerative to the 
stockholders. Propositions were made, in 1828, for its sale. 
These were not accepted ; and finally it was concluded to 
abandon the road, and to offer it as a free public highway 
to the towns through which it passed. In 1830 the town 
of Medford voted to accept and support that part of it 
which is in Medford, whenever it shall be free of toll. 
Again, in 1831, the town express the wish that it may 
become a free road, and promise to keep their part in 
good repair. This disposition having been made of it, 
the town has performed its promise ; and to-day, under 
the name of Poorest Street, it is one of the most popular 
localities for private residences. 

Medford has always kept its roads in good condition ; 
for it has a blue gravel in some of its hills, admirably 
adapted to the surface of paths and highways. May 15, 
1758: "Voted ten pounds for the repair of the roads." 
This is the first vote of the kind on record. Till this time 
each citizen had worked out his "highway tax" by him- 
self or hired man. Just how much a man was then allowed 
per day for personal labor on the road, we may not say ; 
but the public records inform us, that, in 1802, the "labor 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 69 

of a man on the highways was fixed at one dollar for eight 
hours, and for his team two dollars ;" while, in 1819, the 
pay of a man was one dollar twenty-five cents, and of his 
team two dollars fifty cents. 

Straightening and widening roads became each year of 
great importance, as the first short roads were very crook- 
ed. A hundred years ago men talked of the necessity 
of opening new routes of travel between Medford and the 
adjoining villages. As long ago as 1761 many inhabitants 
of the town petitioned the Court of Sessions for a road 
across the marshes at " Labor in Vain," thus connecting 
the eastern part of the town with the Boston road. The 
petition was granted, and the commissioners laid out the 
road, and assessed the damages ; but it was concluded not 
to build it. March 5, 1787, the town voted, ''That Ben- 
jamin Hall, Esq., Gen. John Brooks, and Thomas Brooks, 
Esq., be a committee to petition the Court of Sessions 
to obtain a new road through a part of Col. Royall's and 
Capt. Nicholson's farms." But that petition was not suc- 
cessful. 

May 10, 1802: A committee was chosen "to lay out a 
road between Medford, Stoneham, and Reading, through 
the woods ; " also to see if a road from the meeting-house 
to Joseph Wyman's was feasible. Purchase Street was 
opened many years after, according to this suggestion. 

Sept. 13, 1802 : The Court of Sessions direct, "that the 
road from Jonathan Brooks's Corner to West Cambridge 
(now Arlington) be widened, Medford and Charlestown 
paying for the lands taken." 

May 7, 1804: The town chose a committee "to stake out 
the private ways in the town." The intention of the town 
doubtless was, that those avenues, paths, or rangcways 
through which the public have a right of way, should be 
marked out and recorded. It is very important that these 
rights should be preserved, and as important that they 
should not be unjustly claimed. Settling near a river 
gave superior facilities for transportation in early times, 
and therefore free access to a landing-place was impor- 
tant. This is shown by many acts of the town. 

Nov. 9, 1846, the town chose a committee of three to 
ascertain what right of way then existed for the use of 
Rock-hill landing ; and the legal decision was against the 
town. 

When, in the early part of this century, ship-building 



70 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

became an enterprise in Medford, the town felt a new 
impulse, and began to increase in numbers by a new ratio. 
This required new streets ; and, from 1810 to the present 
time, they have been constantly opening, either by munici- 
pal authority or at private expense. But ship-building 
has not continued to be the source of our growth and pros- 
perity. Only a few ships have been built the last thirty 
years ; and our recent growth has resulted from our near- 
ness to Boston, and the consequent accession of population 
from the overflow of a great city. Nearness to the me- 
tropolis has increased the population in every direction in- 
land ; and towns and cities thirty miles away have doubled 
their population during the last two decades, largely be- 
cause of railway facilities. 

In Medford, west of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, 
more than a hundred acres have been put into house-lots 
since 1854. Through that section of the town, streets 
have been made, and dwellings erected ; and the enter- 
prise, prompted largely by a spirit of speculation, has 
resulted in a great public benefit. Edward T. Hastings 
originated an improvement in West Medford which has 
resulted in the building-up and beautifying that part of 
the town. In connection with Samuel Teel, jun., he laid 
out two hundred acres of land into streets and building- 
lots, and planted trees on the sides of those streets, which 
already have added much to the beauty of that locality and 
to the value of the property there. Mr. John Bishop did 
for the eastern part of Medford what Messrs. Hastings, 
Teel, and others did for the west. And on the estate 
north of Gravelly Bridge, many of our best residences 
have been erected since 1850; so that now that part of 
the town is one of its most attractive precincts. 

Mr. Bishop did another desirable thing for the town, in 
putting into the market a large tract of land for building- 
lots east of the Old Fountain House, where many to-day 
have comfortable homes, who, but for the liberal induce- 
ments held out to them to purchase lots and build upon 
them, would now be living in hired tenements. 

Another estate brought into the market in the same 
way was that of Messrs. James and Isaac Wellington. It 
contained about one hundred and si.xty acres. Plans were 
drawn, and sales of lots commenced, as early as 1854; but 
the enterprise did not flourish, until, in 1874, a new road 
was built, which shortened the distance to Boston, and 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 71 

brought these lands within three miles of that city. Since 
then, many buildings have been erected there ; and with 
its natural advantages, and proximity to Boston, its future 
is full of promise. 

From earliest times, the town chose annually a sur- 
veyor of highways, whose duty it was to superintend the 
repairs of the public roads. He had full power to decide 
where, and to what extent, repairs should be made. As 
population and streets increased, several surveyors became 
necessary; and they received compensation for-their time 
and labor. After the brick almshouse was built in West 
Medford, near the Lowell Railroad depot (181 2), Isaac 
Brooks, Esq., who had taken the deepest interest in the 
matter, proposed to employ the male paupers in repairing 
the highways. This plan was adopted ; and, under the guid- 
ance of a general surveyor, the keeper of the almshouse 
went forth every day with his picked men and horse-cart. 
As this procedure converted the almshouse from a place 
of ease to a place of labor, it had the magical effect of thin- 
ning the number of male occupants. 

In 1 8 14 the town opposed the opening of a road from the 
Charlestown Road, at the foot of Winter Hill, to Craigie's 
Bridge in East Cambridge. A long and warm debate con- 
cerning this project prevailed for a considerable time ; but 
at length the patrons of the measure succeeded, and the 
road was opened. 

The Boston and Lowell Railroad was surveyed through 
Medford in 1831, and the projected enterprise had warm 
advocates and zealous opponents. It was the first railway 
designed for public travel built in New England. The 
charter of the road bears the date of June 5, 1830, and the 
names of John F. Loring, Lemuel Pope, Isaac P. Davis, 
Kirk Boot, Patrick T. Jackson, George W. Lyman, and 
Daniel P. Parker. The number of directors was five ; the 
number of shares, one thousand. The Act provided that 
no other railroad should within thirty years be authorized, 
leading to any place within five miles of the northern ter- 
mination of the road. This road has added greatly to the 
wealth and prosperity of Medford, and has vastly enhanced 
the value of land in that part of the town. 

Its cost was enormous. Its rails were all laid on granite 
blocks, the idea of durability causing the immense outlay. 
But a short trial convinced the managers that they had 
made a mistake, for the contact of stone with iron made 



72 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

the track too firm and unyielding. It wore the machinery 
of the locomotives and cars so rapidly as to induce a sub- 
stitution of wooden ties. 

The Medford branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad 
was incorporated March ']; 1845 ; and the names of the 
petitioners are James O. Curtis, Henry L. Stearns, Joseph 
Manning, jun., Daniel Lawrence, Nathaniel H. Bishop, and 
Andrew Blanchard, jun. On the 22d of January, 1845, the 
town passed the following : — 

" Resolved, as the sense of the people of Medford, that it is expedi- 
ent that the prayer of the petitioners for a railroad to connect Medford 
with Boston be granted." 

In order to have an estimate of the cost of this last- 
named road, a committee of citizens employed James Hay- 
ward to make certain surveys. He did so ; and the original 
copy of his report, now yellow with age, has come into our 
hands. It is as follows : — 

To Messrs. Bishop, Lawrence, and others. 

Gentlemen, — The survey and estimate which you requested me to 
make for a branch railroad from Medford to the Maine Extension Rail- 
road in Maiden have been completed ; and a horizontal trace and vertical 
section of the line selected as the best, which will conform to your 
wishes in this behalf, are represented in the accompanying drawing. 

The line selected by this survey is as follows : it commences on 
Ship Street, near the public sc^uare in Medford village, and proceeds 
eastwardly, in a very direct line, crossing Cross Street near the pound, 
thence, in nearly the same direction, across Park Street, and thence to 
the Boston and Maine Extension Railroad, with which it unites, by a 
curve of one thousand feet radius, about fifteen hundred feet east of 
the farmhouse of the Messrs. Wellington, and about two hundred rods 
from the railroad bridge over Mystic River. 

The whole length of this line, from the Extension Road to the ter- 
minus in Medford, is ninety-eight hundred feet. The only considera- 
ble curve is that by which it connects with the Maine Extension 
Road, and even this might have an enlarged radius if it should be 
thought expedient. 

The highest grade is about sixteen feet to the mile, as I have laid 
the profile of the road, and estimated the cutting and filling. There is 
no marsh land or rock-cutting ; but the ground is very favorable for 
the construction of a railroad, being generally sand and light gravel, 
and requiring no very deep cutting or high embankment. The largest 
item in the earth-work will consist of about sixteen thousand vards of 
embankment, to raise the ground for the depot buildings and wood- 
yard. The line intersects two cross-roads, neither of them much trav- 
elled; and from each of these intersections nearly the whole line of 
the branch road may be seen. 

The damage to real estate will be trifling, considering the fact that 
the road will commence near the centre of so extensive and so compact 
a villaiTC. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



73 



The accompanyins; estimate provides for a single-track road of the 
first class ; embankments fifteen feet wide at the surface of the road- 
bed, with slopes of one and a half to one, and excavations of twenty- 
four feet in width at the grade-line, with the same slopes as those of 
the embankments. The superstructure estimated for is the wrought- 
iron T-rail, weighing fifty-seven pounds to the yard, laid on chestnut 
sleepers, and secured by a heavy cast-iron chair," which will effectually 
hold the ends of the rails in place. The estimate contains nothing 
for land, or damage to real estate. Of this subject you are much 
better judges than myself, and will be better able to ascertain the 
opinions of the owners, or of the other citizens of Medford, by whose 
opinion, in some degree, such questions, in case of disagreement, will 
ultimately be decided. 

To the expense of building the branch, I have added that of building 
a second track on the Maine Extension Road, from the proposed 
junction with that road to the Middlesex Canal, where the route pro- 
posed on the south side of the river would meet the Extension Road. 
This I do, that we may have all the data for comparing the two routes 
proposed. 

The distance to Boston by the northern route is thirty-two hundred 
feet greater than that by the southern route ; and the southern branch 
will be forty-two hundred feet longer than the northern. 

With these remarks the annexed estimate is respectfully submitted 
by Your obedient servant, 

James Hayward. 

ESTIMATE OF COST. 

Excavation and embankment, 30,000 yards, at \2\ cts. . $3,750 00 

Masonry, 455 yards, at si. 50 6S2 50 

Fencing, 1,200 rods, at Si . . . . . . . 1,200 00 

2 road-signs (25 feet long) 100 00 

6 road and field crossings 1 00 00 

Superstructure, 2 miles * 15,250 00 

Depot buildings 4.000 00 



$25,082 50 



To which add for grading the second track from the junc- 
tion to Mystic River, 7,092 yards, at i6| cts. . . . 1,182 00 
From bridge to Middlesex Canal. 6,333 yards, at l6§ cts. . 1,055 55 
Masonry near Wellington's, 25 yards, at $2 . . . 50 00 
Superstructure north of Mystic I^iver .... 4,621 21 
Superstructure south of Mystic River .... 2,743 84 
Engineering, contingencies, etc., ten per cent . . . 3.473 50 



$38,208 60 



By the Act of Incorporation " the capital stock was not 
to consist of more than one thousand shares at one hun- 
dred dollars each." The Act further stated, — 

" If the said railroad shall not be constructed within two years from 
the passage of this Act, then the same shall be void." 

' This includes about five hundred feet of side-track. 



74 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

It was readily finished, and proves to be a most pro- 
ductive and convenient road. 

The Stoneham Branch Railroad Company was incorpo- 
rated May 15, 185 I. Thaddeus Richardson, Amasa Farrier, 
and William Young, were named as the corporation. Sec- 
tion 7 of the Act has the following condition : — 

" The construction of the said road shall not be commenced until 
the capital named in the charter shall have been subscribed by respon- 
sible parties, and twenty per cent paid into the treasury of the said 
company." 

This road was commenced and graded from Stoneham 
into the bounds of Medford, where its further construction 
suddenly stopped, and was given up. 

The Medford and Charlestown Railroad Company was 
incorporated May 15, 1855 ; the petitioners therefor being 
James M. Usher, James O. Curtis, Samuel Teel, jun., Al- 
bert Hanscom, and Edwin Wright. The Act of Incorpo- 
ration was modified by supplementary legislation March 9, 
1857, and April 6, 1859. 

The company was organized Feb. 28, 1856; and its by- 
laws were adopted Dec. 26, 1859. 

Early in i860 a location was granted by the selectmen of 
Medford and Somerville ; and Mr. George E. Adams took 
the contract for building the road, the track being laid, as 
located, in the middle of Main Street from the Square to 
Mystic Avenue, thence on the east side of Main Street 
to the terminus near the junction of Main Street and 
Broadway on Winter Hill. 

In May of the same year the company, for twelve thou- 
sand dollars, purchased of the Somerville Railroad Com- 
pany its Winter-hill Branch, extending from the summit 
of Winter Hill, through Broadway by a side-track, to the 
Charlestown line. 

Two or three months later the road was completed to 
Medford Square, and went into operation under lease ; first 
to George E. Adams, and later (Nov. i, i860) to the Mai- 
den and Melrose Railroad Company, which transferred its 
lease to the Middlesex Railroad Company in January, 
1866. 

In 1863 the company contemplated extending its track 
to Maiden line, and a location through Salem Street was 
granted therefor by the selectmen ; but no part of the 
extension was ever built. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 75 

Near the close of 1869 the selectmen of Somerville or- 
dered the removal of the track to the middle of the street 
from the Medford line to Broadway. This order was the 
occasion of serious complications and embarrassments, and 
resulted, about the first of May, 1873, in the revocation of 
the location, and the removal of the track of that section 
of the road, by the authorities of Somerville. The cars, of 
course, ceased running to Medford at that date ; and the 
company failing to secure an adjustment of its difficulties 
with the Middlesex Company and the Somerville authori- 
ties, so as to warrant the hope that the track from Medford 
Square to the Somerville line would be further useful, the 
location was revoked, and the rails ordered to be removed, 
by the selectmen of Medford. 

The company continued in being till April 30, 1880, 
when under an Act of the Legislature, passed that year, 
all its property, rights, powers, and privileges were trans- 
ferred to the Middlesex Railroad Company. 

Dividends were declared for one year only, and the 
rental ($2,240 per annum) was afterwards appropriated to 
meet current expenses and the cancellation of bonds issued 
in payment for the Winter-hill Branch ; which Branch, as 
soon as paid for, became nearly worthless, from a new 
order issued by the Somerville city government. 

The stock of the company was substantially a dead loss 
to its possessors, there being nothing for division when the 
company was dissolved. 

The abandonment of the road was a severe disappoint- 
ment to the citizens of Medford. 

In 1883 the question of the revival of the Medford 
Horse Railroad began to be agitated. The Middlesex 
Horse-railroad Corporation offered to re-open the road, 
on the condition that the town should pay the expense of 
paving the road-bed. At the March meeting in 1884, the 
town appropriated the required sum of eight thousand 
dollars, and the road was constructed, and the cars com- 
menced running to the Square, Sept. 15, 1884. It was 
afterwards extended to Maiden ; and the line was opened 
for use, June 27, 1885. 

The Boston and Mystic-valley Railroad was chartered in 
March, 1879, with the following gentlemen as corporators : 
Stephen Dow of Woburn, S. W. Twombly of Winchester, 
Charles M. Barrett of Medford, H. Blanchard, jun., of Wil- 
mington, B. E. Gage of Lowell, P. W. Locke of Boston, 



'^e HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

and others. The length of the road was to be about fif- 
teen miles ; starting at Wilmington, and passing through 
Woburn, Winchester, Medford, and Somerville. 

The construction of the road was commenced at once ; 
and nearly eleven miles of the grading was near comple- 
tion, when, in consequence of misfortunes or mismanage- 
ment, the work was suspended, and was not again renewed. 
The charter was lost by the expiration of the time given 
in which to complete the road ; the Legislature declined 
to extend the time, and the Mystic-valley Railroad ceased 
to exist. 

What the future may do to avail itself of the work ac- 
complished under the charter, we may not predict ; but 
many still hope that the money expended may not be 
wholly and finally lost ; that, some time, the locomotive 
may bear freight and passengers through Medford over 
the line of that partially constructed road. 

Bridges. — The first bridge ever erected across the 
Mystic River was at the point where the Stone Bridge 
now stands, in the centre of the town. The primitive 
structure was rude and frail, so that repairs were demanded 
in less than four years. At that time the land at that 
place, on both sides of the river, was low and swampy ; and 
the bridge, from that cause, was necessarily long. Doubt- 
less, the business of Gov. Cradock's men was the most 
imperative demand for that first bridge ; for his agent had 
commenced an extensive fishing-business in Medford, and 
he needed a bridge over which heavy teams could cross. 

But did he demand that the town should build it t The 
town records are lost, that otherwise would give us light 
on that matter ; but we find in the records of the General 
Court certain statements that enable us to know that Mr, 
Cradock commenced the enterprise at his own expense, 
as early as 1638. We learn, also, that he did not com- 
plete the bridge witiiout assistance ; yet it is said that he 
taxed the travellers who crossed upon it, and was prose- 
cuted, through his agent, for hinderance of boats, and for 
demanding toll. The statement is as follows : — 

"At tlie General Court, Boston, 22d of 3d month, 1639, Mr. Mathew 
Cradock is freed of rates to the country, by a.ijreement of the Court, for 
the year ensuing from this day, in reoard of his charije in building the 
bridge ; and the country is to finisli it at the charge of the public. Mr. 
Davison and Lieut. Sprague to see it done, and to bring in their bill 
of charjres." 




BOSTON AND MAINE RAILROAD STATION, IE 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 'J'J 

This record clearly proves that a bridge had been com- 
menced at that early day by Mr. Cradock ; that it was not 
finished by him ; that he received exemption from taxes by 
a vote of the General Court, which would not have been 
accorded if the bridge had not been considered a public 
necessity, and had not occupied the best place for such a 
structure. While the Province aided to complete the bridge, 
doubtless Mr. Cradock's agent made it passable, and took 
toll before it was completed. This supposition makes the 
matter intelligible, and shows the public spirit of the man 
who would enter alone on such an enterprise. 

It should be borne in mind that the land at each end of 
that first toll-bridge in New England was then several feet 
lower than it now is. Indeed, the whole square was then a 
low marsh ; and, while the bridge might have been passable, 
the road to it at each end might have been so poor, that 
at certain seasons it could not have been open to travel ; 
and the first assistance from the Province may have been 
the filling-up of the road leading to the bridge. However 
that may have been, the bridge was commenced by Mr. 
Cradock's agent, and completed by the Province, Medford 
paying her share of the public tax. Four years after this 
we have the following record : — 

"General Court, May lo, 1643: It is ordered Mr. Tomlins should 
have £zz to repair Mistick Bridge, to make it strong and sufficient; for 
which sum of £21 he hath undertaken it."' 

This extract proves that the bridge, after it was complet- 
ed, very soon needed repairing, and that about one hundred 
dollars were necessary for the work. The bridge, therefore, 
must have been important as a public way, to have received 
such large attention from the General Court. The frailty 
of the structure must have been remarkable ; for only three 
years passed, before it again demanded the care of the Gen- 
eral Court. The record is as follows : — 

" At a General Court at Boston, for elections, the 6th of the 3d mo. 
(May), 1646, Ralph Sprague and Edward Converse appointed to view 
the bridge at Mistick, and what charge they conceive meet to be 
presently expended for the making it sufficient, and prevent the ruin 
thereof, or by further delay to endanger it, by agreeing with workmen 
for the complete repairing thereof, and to make their return to ^Ir. 
Willoughby and Mr. Burrell, and what thej' shall do herein to be satis- 
fied out of the treasury." 

These frequent draughts on the colonial treasury began 



78 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

to alarm the government ; and the following record shows 
the steps taken accordingly : — 

" At a session of the General Court, the first month, 164S: It was 
voted by the whole Court, that Mistick Bridge should be made and 
maintained by the county at the public charge." 

This movement created alarm through Medford, because 
strong fears were entertained that the county would let the 
bridge go to ruin. No penalty for non-performance of duty 
was imposed, and there was good cause for the fears which 
the people expressed. Mr. Cradock's agent, therefore, sent 
his petition, the nature of which can be ascertained only by 
the following reply : — 

" General Court, 28tli of the 7th mo., 164S : In answer to tlic petition 
of Nic. Davison, in the behalf of Mr. Cradock, for the repairing and 
maintaining of Mistick Bridge by the county, the said Mr. Davison 
being sent for, the evidence he can give being heard and examined with 
the records of the General Court, it appears that the General Court did 
engage for an exemption from rates for that year, and finishing the 
same on their own charges ; which accordingly hath been done."* 

We may infer from these proceedings, that the bridge 
was very likely to be out of repair, and that Mr. Cradock's 
workmen and business required it to be strong and safe. 
Five years roll away, and the county appears to have done 
little for the safety of the bridge. The indefatigable Mr. 
Davison, urged on, doubtless, by Mr. Cradock, appeals once 
more to the supreme authority. It is not strange that the 
General Court should at that time determine to put an end 
to the neglect of the county, and the annoyance and danger 
caused thereby ; and, probably by the earnest prompting of 
Mr. Davison, they passed the following financial resolve 
and legal order, on the 28th of March, 1653 : — 

" Upon a petition presented by Mr. Nicholas Davison, in the behalf 
of Mr. Cradock, in reference to' Mistick Bridge, it is ordered by this 
Court, and hereby declared, that if any ])erson or persons shall appear, 
that will engage sufficiently to build, repair, and maintain the bridge at 
Mistick, at his or their proper cost and charges, it shall be lawful ;" and 
all and every such person or persons so engaging are herebv authorized, 
and have full power, to ask, require, and receive of every single person 
passing over the said bridge, one penny, and for every horse and man, 
sixpence, for every beast twopence, and'for every cart, one shilling ; and 
this to continue so long as the bridge shall be sufficiently maintained, 
as aforesaid."' 

This order of the General Court is clearly based upon 
the fact that the bridge was at first intended for the pas- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 79 

sage of heavily loaded teams ; that it had not been kept in 
a safe and proper condition for such teams to cross ; and 
therefore that any one who would assume to put it in good 
condition, and keep it in repair, might legally charge and 
collect a certain rate of toll. 

Put all these legislative orders together, with the infer- 
ences that may be drawn from them, and we have a very 
satisfactory history of the first bridge in Medford. We 
can see, in our mind's eye, a rude structure, sufficiently 
wide to allow but one cart to pass at the same time, and 
so poorly put together as to be endangered by every high 
tide ancl by floating ice. We can furthermore see, that 
the bridge was placed where the present one stands ; and, 
lastly, we may say, that to Mr. Mathew Cradock of London 
onr fathers were indebted for this great convenience. 

The next step of interest which had reference to Mystic 
Bridge, and to several other bridges in different towns, 
was the appointment of a committee by the County Court, 
to decide what bridges were necessary, and how they 
should be erected and maintained. That committee re- 
ported as follows : — 

" In obedience to an order of the County Court, held at Charlestown, 
Dec 30, 1656, we whose names are underwritten, meeting at Cam- 
bridge, March 2, 1659, to weigh and consider what bridges are fittest 
to be built and maintained at the county's charge, after due examina- 
tion of things, we find the bridges of this county, already erected 
and to be erected (as we conceive), to exceed for number and charge 
all the other counties within this Colony; and withal, considering the 
great necessity of bringing in all that are alike useful, which would 
amount to such a charge that we question the county's ability to 
maintain and bear the charge thereof; and having some experimental 
knowledge that towns will be more cautious in laying out their own 
costs than the counties, both in building and repairing, do therefore 
conclude, according to our weak apprehensions, that as few bridges 
should be built at the county's charge as possibly may be ; only those 
two bridges, i.e., at Billerica and Mistick, to be finished at the coun- 
ty's charge, and for time to come maintained in repair by the towns 
and precincts in which they are; and those towns that are forced to 
build bridges more for the passage of others than their own benefit, 
may have help from the county, by this honored Court's appointment, 
if their burden in building bridges exceed their sister towns; and in 
case any town shall propound to this honored Court for erecting of 
bridges contrary to what is here present, — we are ready to give 
further account to this Court why the county should be no further 
charged that way. And whereas it appears to us that Concord, Sud- 
bury, and Lancaster are at a greater charge in bridges for the public 
use of the county than some other of their neighbor towns, we con- 
ceive it meet that they be abated as followeth : Concord and Lancaster, 



8o HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

all their rates, whether paid or to be paid, to those two bridges above 
named, and Sudbury, the one-half of their rates to the said bridges, 
and their abatements to be satisfied to the undertakers of those 
bridges, or repaid again to such as liave paid, as followeth : i.e., Chehns- 
ford, two pounds ; Biilerica, one pound : Charlestown, ten pounds ; 
Meadford, two pounds; and what these shall fall short of satisfying 
those above-mentioned abatements, made up out of the county stock, 
either tines or otherwise, as the Court shall please to determine. 

^- Provided TiXw-s.)?,, we think it is meet that no stop be made of any 
the above-said abatement, so as to interfere or obstruct the performing 
of the present engagement respecting those bridges. 



'■ Ralfe Mousall. 
Hugh Mason. 
Edward Goffe. 
Joseph Wheeler. 
Thomas Noyes. 



Edward Johnson. 
William Condrey. 
Abraham Hill. 
Jno. Prescott. 
John Parker. 



"April 7, 1657 : This return being made to the Court, it was accepted 
by the Court, who order that this return of the committee shall be 
presented to the next General Court, by the Clerk of the Court, for 
their confirmation and settling thereof. 

" Thomas Daxforth, 

" Recorder!''' 

This report is strangely worded, and in these days 
would be considered a very loose and imperfect document ; 
but the men who made it set forth therein one most impor- 
tant principle, which is capable of broad application, and 
the neglect of which has been the frequent occasion of 
public loss. They said that " towns will be more cautious 
in laying out their own costs than the counties ; " and their 
provision that towns should, as far as possible, superintend 
the expending of their own money on the bridges built in 
their territory, was a wise one. 

Their report was accepted, and the General Court gave 
it the requisite sanction ; yet, though it placed the matter 
of bridges on its true basis, it did not give satisfaction to 
all the towns. 

The plan of taxing the county, and so all the towns in 
the county, for the support of Mystic or Medford Bridge, 
was the source of constant trouble to all concerned, and led 
to lingering lawsuits. It being the only bridge over Mystic 
River, it must be used by many travellers from Salem, Sau- 
gus, Andover, Reading, etc. Woburn was obliged by law 
to help support it, and they of that town constantly com- 
plained and objected. 

Woburn records of Oct. 28, 1690, say, — 



HISTORY OF .^r ED FORD. 8r 

" Sergeant Mathew Johnson, Sergeant John Pierce, chosen to meet; 
the Court's committee, and treat with them about Mistick Bridge." 

The same records, of May, 1691, say, — 

" The selectmen met with Maiden men and Reading men to consult 
about defending ourselves at the County Court ; being warned to ap- 
pear there about .Mistick Bridge." 

In 1693 Woburn grew very emphatic, and said, — 

" Woburnwas not concerned in the presentment of Mistick Bridge; 
neither would they do any thing in order to the repairing thereof, except 
by law they were forced thereto." 

In 1694 Woburn was again cited by order of Court, and 
threatened with a fine of five pounds, yet was inflexible, and 
put itself in the posture of defence. 

The case was tried at Boston ; and, after able attorneys 
had spoken on both sides, the decision was made as fol- 
lows : — 

" Middlesex, ss. — At the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, 
holden at Charlestown, Jan. 23, 1694. 

" Whereas there was an order of the General Court, in the year 
1 691, referring to the settlement of Mistick Bridge to the County Court 
of Middlesex, the said Court ordering the repairing of said bridge to 
be by the respective towns of Charlestown, Woburn,"Malden, Reading, 
and Medford, according to their wonted manner, till the Court make 
further provisions, and the defects of said bridge having been presented 
to this Court before the late law respecting bridges, this Court order 
that the said respective towns do forthwith make sufficient repairs 
of the said defect of said bridge, upon pains and penalty of ^5 fine, to 
their Majesties for their respective defaults of each of the said towns ; 
and then to make return of their doings therein to the next General 
Sessions of the Peace for Middlesex ; and that for the future it shall be 
left to the determination of the law." 

This decision was not satisfactory to the defendants : but 
Medford, against which all complaints for defects in the 
bridge were made, never refused to do her part in sustain- 
ing the structure ; and her action in regard to the troubles 
that ensued stands recorded as follows : — 

"Voted, in a general town-meeting, Jan. 11, 1694, that the per- 
sons above said are to attend the premises, from Court to Court, until 
there shall be a final determination and settlement of Mistick Bridge." 

This committee performed their duty faithfully, and the 
result is recorded above ; but, in 1698, Medford was again 
presented to the Court for defect in the bridge. On the 
7th of March, the town came together, and voted "to 
empower a lawyer referring to answer a presentment for 



.82 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

•defect in Mistick Bridge." March 28, 1698: Voted "to 
'empower Mr. John Leverett for the further defending the 
•.town referring to Mistick Bridge, in case there be need ; 
and said town to pay lawyer's charges, and other necessary 
■charges that may arise in defence of said bridge, as above 
said." 

The committee had no inducement to prolong their 
-work unnecessarily ; for the pay they received was not 
enough to cover their expenses, as will be seen by the 
town resolve made at that time, which provided, that, " if a 
man attended court for sixty days, he should be paid three 
pounds, and forany less term one shilling sixpence per day." 

The bridge seemed to have a wonderful aptitude in 
getting out of repair ; and, as Medford was liable to be 
indicted for the fact, the bridge became the standing vexa- 
tion of the town. April 3, 1702, the inhabitants appoint 
three of their number as a committee to treat with 
"Woburn, Reading, and Maiden, on the repairing and main- 
taining said bridge. Nine years bring up again the same 
question; and May 24, 171 1, the town voted "to desire 
the selectmen of the town to procure such records of 
Court or Courts as may give information of the division 
ot Mistick Bridge to the several neighboring towns for the 
repair of the same." This vote, while it shows us there 
had been a legal division of the bridge liabilities, shows 
also that the contiguous towns had not done their duty 
in the premises. Sept. 21, 1714, a rate of fifteen pounds 
was assessed by the selectmen "for Mistick Bridge." 
The bridge was now rebuilt : but the adjoining towns 
refused to pay their shares ; and Medford voted to carry 
the question before the General Sessions of the Peace, 
sitting at Charlestown. The object of this appeal was 
to show from records that there was no valid reason for 
the refusal of the neighboring towns in bearing their share 
of the expense of rebuilding. The committee chosen to 
prosecute the whole matter to its final settlement were 
Deacon Thomas Willis, Ensign John Bradshaw, and Mr, 
Ebenezer Brooks. 

The appeal of Medford was just ; and it was met by the 
Court of General Sessions of the Peace, sitting at Charles- 
town, P^eb. 16, 1715, thus: — 

"Tlie Court apportion the charges of rebuilding Mistick Bridge 
as follows: Charlestown, ^64. 14^.; Woburn, Maiden, Reading, and 
IVIedford, each ^17. \zs. 3^/.; total, ^135. 3J." 



HISTOID V OF MEDFORD. 83 

To this award Woburn, Maiden, and Reading objected, 
and thierefore appealed. The consequence was the legal 
trial of the case; and Medford, July 11, 1715, passed the 
following vote : — 

'•Voted, to empower Deacon Thomas Willis, Ensi.ijn John Brad- 
shaw, and Mr. Ebenezer Brooks as a committee to defend the town 
against any suits in law having reference to the rebuilding of Mistic 
Bridge."' 

The decision was in favor of Medford. 

When the tract on the south of the river became an- 
nexed to Medford from Charlestown in 1754, the records 
say : — 

'•April 30, 1754: The southerly half of Mistic Bridge, and the 
cause}- adjoining, by a resolve of the General Assembly, is now within 
the limits of Medford. 

'•May 8, 1754: Samuel Brooks, Esq., Lieut. Stephen Hall, jun., 
and Jos." Tufts were chosen a committee to manage the affairs relating 
to the southerly half of the Mistic Bridge and the causey adjoining 
thereto." 

The increase of travel over this bridge rendered it liable 
to frequent repairs, and Medford became sole owner of it. 
The annexation, in 1754, of that part of Charlestown 
which lies near the south bank of Mystic River, released 
that town from all obligations connected with the "Great 
Bridge," as it was called. Accordingly, July 25, 1757, we 
find the following record : — 

'• \"oted, that Samuel Brooks, Esq., Stephen Hall, Esq., and Capt. 
Caleb Brooks be a committee to agree with suitable persons to re- 
build the south side of Medford Great Bridge with wood or stone; 
and that said committee empower persons to wharf out on each side 
of said bridge. 

" May 1 3," [761 : Voted, to treat with Woburn, Reading, and Maiden, 
concerning Medford Bridge, and acquit any of them that shall comply 
from all further charge ; and also to treat with the General Court if 
there be reason." 

Woburn, as we have seen, always contended most 
stoutly but ineffectually against paying for the support of 
the bridge ; because, as she maintained, her people did not 
use it. They sometimes went to Boston through Charles- 
town (now Somerville). So troublesome grew this litiga- 
tion, that Woburn paid to Medford a certain sum to be 
released from all further liabilities. 

The next movement for this important passway, worthy 
of record, was in 1789, when it was proposed to widen 



84 HISTORY OF MED FORD 

the bri(li;-c, and pave the market-place. The plan devised 
for paying the expenses was a common one in that day : 
it was by a lottery ; and ]\Iay 1 1 the town petitioned the 
General Court to grant them a lottery for these purposes. 
The petition was not granted. 

April 2, 1804: On this day the committee chosen at 
a previous meeting to inquire into the necessity and ex- 
pediency of building a new bridge report that it is expe- 
dient that a new bridge be built, and they recommend 
that it be thirty feet wide, and also that it have a draw. 
They further say, it should have "four piers of white-oak 
timber of seven piles each, the two outside piers to be set 
twenty feet from each other ; to have an arch in the centre 
of twenty-six feet in the clear, and a draw the width of 
the arch." 

Two hundred and eighty dollars were soon afterwards 
subscribed by private persons, as a donation to help for- 
ward the work. The estimated expense, without a draw, 
was one thousand dollars. This proposition was received 
with favor ; and the increasing business on the river re- 
quired this width, and also a draw, but it was not immedi- 
ately adopted. Various plans for meeting the expenses of 
the draw were proposed, but without much success, till a 
resolution was taken by the town, in 1808, to do the whole 
thoroughly. It was done, and a toll of twelve and a half 
cents was charged upon every vessel that passed the draw. 
The next year (Way 20, 1809) we find the following vote : — 

"Mr. Timothy Dexter to demand of every lighter passing through 
the draw ten cents each time, and twenty cents for larger vessels." 

This bridge answered all its intended purposes till 1829, 
when the question of building a new draw came up. The 
matter was referred to a committee, who reported. May 4, 
as follows : — 

"That the town is under no legal obligation to make or maintain a 
drawbridge, but may build without a draw, as heretofore." 

Nevertheless, the final result was a vote to build a new 
bridge with a draw. It was built accordingly ; but the 
draw was so narrow, that in 1834 the town voted to widen 
the draw, whenever the selectmen shall judge proper. 
This was done ; and later, in 1853, the draw was again wid- 
ened to admit the passage of the large ships which were 
built above the bridge. The bridge thus improved remained 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 85 

until the erection of the fine stone bridge, in 1881-82. 
Owing to the abandonment of the shipyards above the 
bridge, a draw was no longer necessary ; and by authority 
of the Legislature, and concurrence of the Harbor Com- 
missioners, Cradock Bridge was made a solid structure. 

It will be seen by these records of the town, county, and 
General Court, that this bridge, among the earliest in the 
country and among the most important in the Colony, has 
had an eventful history. Seldom, if ever, has there been 
so much legislation in the General Court about seventy-five 
feet of bridge. But it was part of a great thoroughfare, 
and was second to none in importance to all travellers from 
the east and north who were going to Boston. F"or one 
hundred and fifty years, it was on the nearest land-route 
for all the travel of Maine and New Hampshire ; and, 
within the memory of some now living, the farmers of New 
Hampshire, who brought large loads of pork and grain in 
pungs to Boston, passed over that bridge in companies of 
five, ten, fifteen, and twenty, during the months when there 
was sufficient snow to make the sleighing good. 

This was the only bridge in Medford, across the Mystic 
River, for common highway travel, until 1756. 

The bridge at the Wear was for a long time the next one 
in the town, of any considerable importance. This also 
cost Medford much money, and considerable trouble. As 
early as March 6, 1699, it was put to vote whether the town 
of Medford will give Mr. John Johnson three pounds 
towards the building a sufficient horse-bridge over the 
Wears ; said bridge being railed on each side, and the said 
bridge raised so high as there may be a fit passage under 
said bridge for boats and rafts up and down said river. 
This was voted in the affirmative, and this is the first 
mention of a bridge of this kind at the Wear ; but nothing 
appears to show that Johnson built the proposed structure. 
Indeed, the facts hereinafter stated make it quite certain 
that he did not. The dwellers in the western parts of 
Charlestown and Cambridge came so often to Medford, 
that they petitioned for the erection of a bridge "at the 
Wears." As Medford would be obliged to pay for half of 
it, a protest by the town was made against the proceeding ; 
and the two arguments used were, first, that the ford was 
sufficiently easy and convenient, and, second, that Medford 
people never or seldom travelled that way. The building 
was deferred ; but in 1722 the grand jury present the town 



86 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

of Medford iox not maintaining a bridge across the Wears. 
Aug. 17 the town "put to vote whether the town will 
choose a committee to answer a presentment by the 
grand jury of the want of a bridge over the Wear ; said 
answer to be made at Concord Court next. Voted in the 
affirmative." 

The next important action of the town was May 29, 
1746. They petition Gov. Shirley and the General Court 
to order a bridge built over the Wears, and then apportion 
the expense upon the towns that would most use it, or on 
Middlesex County. The just decision of the Court was, 
that Medford and Charlestown should build a bridge, and 
each pay half the expenses, and keep it in repair. August, 
1747: "The General Court order' that Samuel Danforth, 
William Brattle, and Edmund Trowbridge, Esqs., be a 
committee of said Court, empowered and directed to cause 
a good and sufficient bridge to be erected over the place 
called the ' Wears,' between Charlestown and Medford ; 
one half of the charge to be paid by the town of Charles- 
town, and the other half by the town of Medford." Nov. 4, 
1747 : " Andrew Hall, Ebenezer Brooks, and Francis Whit- 
more, jun., were appointed a committee to build one-half 
of the bridge, and two hundred pounds was raised to pay 
the expense." 

This bridge was rebuilt about thirty years ago, and it 
now devolves on Medford and Arlington to support it. 

Gravelly Bridge wdiS probably first built by Mr. Cradock's 
men, and in those early times was the usual route for all 
the travel between the eastern and western sections of the 
town. It was a very low and frail structure at first, and 
required frequent repairs. 

April 27, 1716 : " Put to vote whether Deacon Thomas 
Willis, John Whitmore, Jonathan Tufts, Ebenezer Brooks, 
and John Willis shall view and consider what method may 
be most proper for the repairing of Gravelly Bridge, and 
what may be the cost thereof, and make report to said 
town at their next town-meeting. Voted in the affirma- 
tive." June II, 1716: "Voted five pounds to be raised for 
the repairing 'their meeting-house, and mending Gravelly 
Bridge." 

March 4, 175 i : "Voted to build a new bridge of stone 
where the present Gravelly Bridge is." This" continued 
until some forty years ago, when a new one, built of stone, 
was erected, and so widened as to cover the entire street. 




CRADOCK BRIDGE. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 87 

The bridge over Gravelly Creek, on Riverside Avenue, 
was erected at first, by a few Medford people, in 1746, 
for the purpose of making a road to the tide-mill. 

The bridge over Marble Brook, in West Medford (called 
" Meeting-house Brook " in later times), was made of wood 
at first, and so continued for more than a century. It was 
then built of stone, in 1803, and so continued till 1850, 
when it was rebuilt of stone, and made as wide as the 
street. The same remarks belong to the small bridge 
called " Whitmore's Bridge," farther west, and near the 
Lowell Railroad station in West Medford. 

The bridges across streams that could be forded were 
at first made narrow, so that teams could be driven 
through the water at the side of them, where the horses 
could quench their thirst. In country places the same 
thing is now j^ractised. 

The bridge at Penny Ferry, now Maiden Bridge, was 
opened for travel Sept. 28, 1787; and President Washing- 
ton rode over it in October, 1789, when he visited Salem. 
At that time he came to Medford to see his friend Gen. 
Brooks, who lived in the first house west of the meeting- 
house. Medford opposed the building of the bridge on 
two grounds : first, that it would obstruct navigation ; 
and, second, that it would divert travel from Medford. It 
should be understood that all the travel in the eastern 
section of Massachusetts and Maine, going to Boston, was 
through Medford, and over what is now the Cradock 
Bridge ; and, when it was proposed to build the Maiden 
Bridge, it created great excitement and controversy in the 
neighboring towns. In evidence of this, we insert the fol- 
lowing letter of Dr. Osgood, bearing date June 28, 1786 : — 

"Almost ever since I saw you, I have been so agitated about that 
execrable bridge at Penny Ferry, that law and divinity have both been 
obliged to stand by whilst I have rallied all my powers to fight the 
bridge-builders. And still the combat is not over. The people are 
bridge-mad. Old Judge R. is in a perfect frenzy, and raves about 
Charlestown and bridges with as little reason as the wildest lunatic in 
the defence of his imagined crown and sceptre. I do think it unpar-\ 
donable in him and in the other inhabitants of Charlestown, who are 
abettors in this business. After the danger and terror they were all 
in, from the apprehension of a bridge at Leechmere's Point, and the 
assistance which they received from this town in making their escape, 
for them so immediately to turn upon us, and appear so zealous for 
the destruction of Medford, is a conduct so liase and ungenerous as 
nothing can palliate. I shall be tempted, when I preach to them again, 
to take total depravity for m\' subject, though tliat be a doctrine of 
which I had begun to doubt till I had this recent proof of it. 



88 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

" Last Saturday week passes amon<j them for the Great Day. T felt 
but little disposed to see the transactions of it, and believe I should 
not have gone, had I been invited. But neither I, nor any of my people, 
except Father C, came to that honor. I may say, as Nathan the 
prophet did to David, with reference to Adonijah"s feast, ' But me, 
even me thy servant, etc., they have not called.' I am told that their 
preacher, the sabbath after, gave them an occasional sermon. My in- 
former (one of my own people, you'll suppose) could not tell the text, 
but added, that, in his opinion, the most suitable one would have been 
these words : ' And the devils entered the herd of swine, and the 
whole herd ran violently down a steep place," etc. 

" The Charlestown Bridge is indeed a grand and noble afTair, beyond 
any thing ever effected in this country before. The only thing that I 
much regret about it is, that it has deprived so many, both wise men 
and fools, of their reason, and set them raving. Judge R. and his 
connections are the wise men ; S. and the Maiden gang are the fools. 
As for the Maiden miserables, they were never awake till the talk 
about this bridge put them in motion, like men who walk in their sleep. 
They now leave their corn unhoed, and their grass not cut, to carry 
petitions to court for a bridge, which, if built, rather than pay two 
coppers' toll for going over it, they would choose to come round by 
Mcdford. But the distracted creatures think, that, if there should be a 
bridge, they shall at once commence a seaport town, have still-houses, 
stores, and what not. And in consequence of this wretched delusion, 
and that neglect of business among them which it occasions, their 
families next winter will have no bread, and their cattle no hay. It 
will be a deed, not of charity, but of indispensable justice, in Judge R. 
to provide for the support of the poor ignoramuses ; since it is owing 
to his superannuated whims that their brains have been turned. As 
for the old judge himself, I told him the other day, that, if he had 
gone to a ' better country ' some weeks since, it might have been well for 
him; but, whether he would ever get there now, there was too much 
reason to fear, as he had of late so greatly and egregiously missed the 
way. His dehrium is so great that it is 'not possible to reason with 
him. When my people tell him that the proposed bridge will ruin 
them, he answers all their objections with, 'Well, come'and live at 
Charlestown then.' W. H. says, that, ' were it possible, the judge 
would try to persuade the saints in heaven to come down and live "in 
Charlestown.' Indeed, the Charlestown people in general, since the 
bridge is done, are so very high, that I know not whether they will 
not think it proper to add another story to their houses ! Knowing 
how a-tiptoe they were, when I went down last week, though I could 
not very well afford to pay the toll for my carriage, yet, rather than 
stop among them, I chose to ride directly into Boston. Like all other 
religious and political enthusiasts, their heat will abate in time: they 
will gradually recover their senses, and become like other men. And, 
if the bridge' should stand seven years (of which, by the wav, I have 
still my doubts), by the expiration of that period, the inhar)itants of 
Charlestown will get their eyes open, and will see that it would have 
been more for their interest if it had never been built. This town feels 
the ill-effects of it already in another respect, besides the stir it has 
occasioned for a bridge at Penny Kerry. A trader from the countrv, 
who, previous to the bridge, had all his goods brought up here in our 
lighters, did last week send five teams by us into Boston, there to un- 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 89 

load and load again. And, if the country traders generally do so, our 
boatmen will lose a profitable part of their business. But this does 
not give us much concern, provided we can prevent the brid"-e at 
Penny Ferry. I scribbled a very long letter to Judge Phillips *upon 
this subject last week ; and he told me to-day that it is circulating 
among the members of the Court. I have kept a copy, and will send 
it to you in a few days. At present, I may possibly want it to show to 
some whom I may perhaps wish to influence by it.' If the facts which 
I liave produced do not carry conviction, and overwhelm these bridge- 
builders with confusion, I sliall think that all the world is mad, and 
that I and my people, witli the few who have hitherto joined us, remain 
the only sober and rational part of this lower creation." 

Chelsea Bridge, over the Mystic, was built in 1804, 
against very strong opposition ; and many said of it, as 
the wits did of the first proposition to bridge Charles 
River, that " it would be next to building castles in the 
air." 

In 1857, after a long and somewhat vexed discussion of 
the matter, the town entered upon the construction of two 
new bridges across the Mystic River, — one at a point 
south-east of the Weir Bridge, and connecting Medford with 
Arlington ; the other forming part of the roadway be- 
tween Purchase and South Streets. The building of these 
bridges involved the laying-out and construction of new 
roads ; and, though entailing a considerable expense, the 
highways thus opened have contributed much to the con- 
venience of public travel and to the development of the 
town. 

Naviing the Bridges. — In the warrant for the town- 
meeting held March 9, 1857, Art. 23 related to naming 
the bridges across Mystic River, and, after due consid- 
eration of the matter ; it was voted that the old bridge 
in the centre of the town, near the square, be called 
" Cradock Bridge;" and that the new bridge, connecting 
High Street with South Street, be called "Winthrop 
Bridge ; " also that the new bridge at West Medford, con- 
necting Medford with West Cambridge, be called " Usher's 
Bridge." 

Bridge over Boston and Lowell Railroad. — The select- 
men, in their report, F'ebruary, 1869, say, — 

"The bridge over tlie Boston and Lowell Railroad, at Medford Steps 
(now Medford Hillside), has been rebuilt the past )ear in a substantial 
manner. 

" This bridge was originallv eighteen feet wide ; but, when the com- 
missioners made it a county-way, they ordered it to be made wider by 
seven feet. 



90 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

" The railroad company contended that they were not liable for any 
of the expense in making the bridge wider; but, after considerable 
controversy, it was agreed that the town should assume that expense, 
in consideration of an agreement by the railroad company, that there- 
after the said company would be holden to repair, maintain, and 
rebuild the bridge as long as it should be needed for their conven- 
ience." 

The report further says that, — 

" The new road and bridge, from Pearl Street to Somerville, has 
been completed, and accepted by the county commissioners, and they 
recommend that the street be called College Street." 

Their report was accepted, and the street was so named. 
Feb. I, 1871, the selectmen report as follows: — 

" By a vote of the town, we have petitioned the General Court for 
authority to bridge Mystic River near the foot of Auburn Street. 
The petition is now in the hands of the committee on harbors." 

July I, 1873, the selectmen reported that the Auburn- 
street Bridge had been built at an expense of ^961.41. 

They also reported that the Boston-avenue Bridge had 
been constructed at a cost of $2,146.12, and that half of 
that amount had been paid by the city of Somerville. 

Middlesex Avcniic. — For several years prior to 1872 the 
east part of the town was earnest in its efforts to secure a 
road and bridge from Wellington across Maiden River, and 
thence over Maiden Bridge to Boston. The Legislature 
had granted the right to bridge either the Maiden or the 
Mystic, as the county commissioners should judge best 
for the public good ; and the commissioners had, after 
protracted hearings, decided to bridge the Mystic near 
Ten-hill Farm. They then ordered Medford to build the 
road within its limits, Somerville to build that part of it 
within its boundaries, and the county to build the bridge. 
They further ordered that the street should . be made 
thirty feet wide, but it was afterwards changed to sixty 
feet. 

The selectmen of Medford contracted with James W. 
Perry to build the road in Medford, to the bridge, for 
the sum of $26,351. It was completed in 1873. 

This avenue connects Medford and Somerville, and 
shortens the distance to Boston, for those who live on 
this route, from one to three miles. The cost of the 
work exceeded by a small sum the amount of the con- 
tract. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 9 1 

After the Middlesex-avenue Bridge was built by the 
county, it devolved on Medford and Somerville to keep it 
in repair. This road and bridge have been a large ex- 
pense to the town ; but they were a public necessity, and 
are such a convenience to a large number of our citizens 
as cannot be estimated. 

Indians. — The early history of all settlements in 
America was largely influenced by the presence of the 
aboriginal tribes ; and the facts and traditions which have 
come down to us touching them, and their relations with 
the whites, are full of strange and poetic interest. 

Two large and powerful tribes held sway in this region 
when our fathers landed, — the Massachusetts and the 
Pawtuckets. 

The renowned sachem of the Pawtuckets was Nane- 
pashemit, who took up his abode on the Mystic River in 
161 5, and was killed there three or four years later. He 
was the father of Sagamore John of the Mystic, Sagamore 
James of Lynn, and Sagamore George of Salem. George 
finally filled the place of his father, and was sachem of the 
Pawtuckets. During the residence of Nanepashemit in 
Medford, his lodge was on Rock Hill, where he could best 
watch the approach of his enemies. The chief enemies of 
the Massachusetts and the Pawtuckets were the Tarratines, 
on the Penobscot, who at the time of harvest would come 
in their canoes, and reap the fields of their inveterate 
foes. On one occasion, one hundred of them attacked 
Sagamores John and James by night, and killed several 
of their men. 

Winslow gives the following account of the residence of 
Nanepashemit, and his place of burial. He says (Sept. 21, 
1621), — 

" We went ashore, all but two men. and marched in arms up in the 
country. Having" gone three miles, we came to a place where corn had 
been newly gathered, a house pulled down, and the people gone. A 
mile from hence, Nanepashemit their king, in his lifetime, had lived. 
His house was not like others; but a scaffold was largely built, with 
poles and planks, some six foot from the ground, and the house upon 
that, l^eing situated on the top of a hill. Not far from hence, in a 
bottom, we came to a fort built bv their deceased king, the manner 
thus : There were poles some thirty or forty feet long stuck in the 
ground as thick as thev could be set. one by another; and with them 
they enclosed a ring some forty or fifty feet over : a trench, breast-high, 
was digged on each side ; one way there was to go into it with a bridge. 
In the midst of this palisado stood the frame of a house, wherein, being 
dead, he lay buried. About a mile from hence we came to such an- 



92 



HISTORY OF ^[EDFORD. 



other, but seated on the top of a hill. Here Nanepashemit was killed, 
none dwelling in it since the time of his death." 

It is estimated, that, on the arrival of the English, there 
were about twenty thousand Indians within fifty miles of 
rivmouth. Their government was rather patriarchal than 
monarchical. Several hundreds, united under one head, 
made a family ; and their head was called Sagamore. When 
several families were united under one head, that head 
was called Sachem. The territory for many miles round 
Mystic River was owned and occupied by small tribes or 
detachments, each having its own head. Medford and 
some of the adjoining territory belonged to Sagamore John, 
whose Indian name was Monohagnaham, and who was 
friendly to our ancestors. The Naumkeags owned the ter- 
ritory from North River in Salem, to Charles River, and 
their numbers were computed at six thousand. Hubbard 
says, — 

" Near the mouth of Charles River, there used to be the general 
rendezvous of all the Indians, both on the north and south side of the 
countrv. It was the seat of the great sachem, who was much venerated 
bv all the plantations of Indians. At Mistick was the seat of a saga- 
more, near adjoining which is a great creek that meets with the mouth 
of Charles River, and so makes the haven of Boston." 

Sagamore John was friendly to white men, gave our 
fathers permission to settle, and afterwards apprised them 
of premeditated attacks by unfriendly Indians. He died in 
1633 ; and his last hours are thus described in " New Eng- 
land's Eirst-Eruits," — 

"Sagamore John, Prince of .Massaquesers, was from our very first 
landing more courteous, ingenuous, and, to the English, more loving, 
than others of them. He desired to learn and speak our lan<juage, and 
loved to imitate us in our behavior and apparel, and began to hearken 
after our God and his ways, and would much commend Englishmen 
and their God, saying, ' Much good men, much good God ; ' and being 
convinced that our condition and ways were better far than theirs, 
did resolve and promise to leave the Indians, and come live with us, 
but yet, kept down by the fears and scoffs of the Indians, had not 
power to make good his purpose: yet went on, not without some 
trouble of mind and secret plucks of conscience, as the sequel declares ; 
for, being struck with death, fearfully cried out of himself that he had 
not come to live with us to have known our God better. ' But now,' 
said he, ' I must die. The God of the English is much angry with me, 
and will destroy me. All ! I was afraid of the scoffs of the wicked 
Indians. Yet my child shall live with the English, and learn to know 
their God, when 1 am dead. 1 will give him to Mr. Wilson: he is 
much good man, and much love me.' .So sent for Mr. Wilson to come 
to him, and committed his only child to hi.s care, and so died." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 93 

The records of Charlestown say, — 

" About the months of April or May, A.D. 1630, there was a jjreat 
design of the Indians, from the Narragansetts and all round about us 
to the eastward, in all parts, to cut off the English, which John Saga- 
more (wlio always loved the English) revealed to the inhabitantsof 
this town." 

Such threats as these induced Mr. Cradock's men to 
build brick houses, which would answer the uses of forts. 
For this reason, Charlestown this year "erected a small fort 
on the top of Town Hill." The women helped the men to 
dig and build. 

Although the Indians were a constant source of anxiety 
to the colonists of Massachusetts Bay, they were less for- 
midable in respect to numbers than they would have been 
a few years previous to the settlement. 

Gosnold, who was at Cape Cod in 1602, says, "This coast 
is very full of people." Capt. Smith, who was here in 1614, 
says it "was well inhabited with many people." Sir Ferdi- 
nando Gorges adds, " At our first discovery of those coasts 
we found it very populous, the inhabitants stout and war- 
like." Speaking of the Massachusetts, Capt. Smith 
observes, — 

" For their trade and merchandise, to each of their principal families 
or habitations, they have divers towns and people belonging, and by 
their relations and descriptions more than twenty several habitations. 
It is the paradise of all those parts; for here are many isles planted 
with corn, groves, mulberries, savage gardens, and good harbors. The 
seacoast, as you pass, shows you all along large cornfields." 

This picture of Indian prosperity, which would seem to 
be somewhat highly colored, was almost wholly effaced by 
the terrible plague of 161 7 and 16 18. Morton says of it, — 

"They died in heaps as they lay in their houses; and the living, 
tiiat were able to shift for themselves, would run away and let them 
die, and let their carcasses lie above the ground without burial. And 
the bones and skulls upon the several places of their habitations made 
such a spectacle, that it seemed to riie a new-found Golgotha." 

Dermer, who was at Cape Cod in 1619, says, — 

" I passed along the coast, where I found some eminent plantations, 
not long since populous, now utterly void. In another place a rem- 
nant remains, but not free from sickness ; their disease, the plague."' 

Rev. Francis Higginson, in 1629, speaking of the Saga- 
mores, says, — 



94 



HISTORY OF BEDFORD. 



"Their subjects, above twelve years since, were swept away by a 
ijreat and grievous plague that was amongst them; so that there are 
"very few left to inhabit the country." 

Gookin says, — 

" I have discoursed with some old Indians that were then youths 
(in the time of tiie plague), who say that the bodies all over were 
exceedingly yellow, describing it by a yellow garment they showed me, 
both before they died and afterwards." 

Gov. Dudley, in 1631, theyear after the first settlers came 
to Medford, says, — 

"Upon the River Mistick is situated Sagamore John; and upon 
the River Saugus, Sagamore James, his brother. Both these brothers 
command not above thirty or forty men, for aught I can learn." 

But the "plague," as the disease was called which proved 
so fatal, was soon followed by the smallpo.x ; and we have 
it from Gov. Winthrop, that in 1633 Sagamores John and 
James, and most of their people, died of the smallpox. 
Of the subjects of John, thirty were buried in one day by 
Mr. Maverick. The disease spread to Piscataqua, where 
it proved mortal to all the Indians, except two or three. 

Those who survived deserted the whole region where 
the diseases prevailed. It became a dreaded locality, and 
Indian superstition kept it so ; for Johnson says, " The 
neighboring Indians did abandon those places for fear of 
death." Thus reduced and disheartened, it was not diffi- 
cult for the watchful settlers to control them. Wisdom, 
virtue, and valor have a natural right to govern. The 
strong characters of our fathers carried a magnetic influ- 
ence to the Indian's heart. H-e saw that they had intelli- 
gence to plan, courage to persevere, and power to execute ; 
and the natural consequence was submission. But it was 
not the rule of tyrants on the one hand, and the subjection 
of slaves on the other. It was the friendly influence of 
Christian missionaries among heathen, for whose conver- 
sion they labored and prayed. Gov. Cradock, in the earliest 
days of the settlement, wrote to his people, saying, — 

" If any part of the savages pretend right of inheritance to all or 
any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you endeavor to 
purchase their title, that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion." 

But although our Medford ancestors took every pre- 
caution to conciliate their copper-colored neighbors, and 
although hostilities did not commence between the settlers 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 95 

and the natives till Philip's War, nevertheless the chiefs 
felt jealous of the whites. Of this there is as little doubt 
as there is that they sometimes had reason for it. The 
erection of forts in this plantation, and the placing of pali- 
sades about their houses, testify to the apprehensions of 
our fathers ; and the jealousy became mutual. The Indians 
led lives of hunting and war, and they saw the white men 
banded together for trade and self-defence. What so com- 
mon in a savage breast as suspicion } The English ap- 
peared to the Indians to be dangerous intruders ; and every 
new act was construed into a premeditated encroachment. 
Gov. Cradock wrote to his agent and servants here the 
second time, saying, — 

"Above all, we pray you be careful that there be none in our 
precincts permitted to do any injury (in the least kind) to the heathen 
people; and, if any offend in that way, let them receive due correc- 
tion." 

Our Medford settlers were forbidden to buy lands of the 
Indians without leave, and they were forbidden to sell 
them " strong water." We find the following record. May 
9, 1632: — 

"It is agreed that there shall be a trucking-house appointed in 
every plantation, whither the Indians may resort to trade, to avoid 
their coming to several houses," 

An Indian was murdered in the Old Colony ; and three 
Englishmen, fairly convicted, were hung for it. Sagamore 
John complains (March 8, 1631) that two of his wigwams 
had been burned by the English. He was immediately 
paid for them, and went away perfectly satisfied. Eliot's 
translation of the Sacred Scriptures into the Indian tongue 
(1648) was circulated by our fathers among the tribes of 
this region. 

This saintly man speaks of "the Mistick Indians " with 
affection and respect in a letter, Nov. 13, 1649, and says 
they were ingenuous, good, and prayerful, and came often 
to the place where he preached. His converts were called 
"Praying Indians." Aug. 7, 1632: — 

" Sagamore John promised against the next year, and so ever after, 
to fence tlieir corn against all kinds of cattle. Chickataubott and 
Sagamore John promised to make satisfaction for whatever wrong that 
any of their men shall do to any of the English, to their cattle, or any 
other wares." 



OjCi HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

March 7, 1644: By solemn compact, all the Indians in 
this jurisdiction put themselves under the government and 
protection of the Massachusetts Colony. The General 
Court, with true Christian policy, instituted special legal 
tribunals for the trial of their causes. The laws enacted 
concerning them were well considered. Among them 
were these : Titles to land to be purchased at satisfactory 
prices ; Indians never to be molested ; not allowed fire- 
arms ; a crime to sell them fire-arms or ammunition ; inter- 
marriage with them discouraged ; strange Indians to be 
kept out. Gov. Winslow, in a letter dated May i, 1676, 
says, — 

'• I think I can clearly say that the English did not possess one 
foot of land in this Colony but what was fairly obtained by honest 
purchase of the Indian proprietors." 

In 1698 there were more than four thousand Indians 
in Massachusetts, and there were enough of them in this 
vicinity to keep our fathers wide awake. For a long time 
it was common to go armed to the ploughing-field. And 
Mac Fingal, in his way, gives us the following account of 
those days, — 

" For once, for fear of Indian-beating, 
Our grandsires bore their guns to meeting. 
Each man equipped, on Sunday morn, 
With psalm-book, shot, and powder-horn, 
And looked in form, as all must grant. 
Like the ancient true church militant; 
Or fierce, like modern deep divines, 
Who fight with quills, like porcupines." 

A few facts which have come down to us concerning 
the Indians who dwelt in this neighborhood will be of 
interest. 

After the death of Nanepashemit, his wife, as Queen 
and Squa Sachem, reigned. She married Webcowit, the 
physician of the tribe, its " powwow, priest, sorcerer, and 
chirurgeon." In 1637 the Squa Sachem deeded a tract 
of land in Musketaquid (Concord). In 1639 she deeded a 
tract to Charlestown, which is now in Somerville, also 
another tract to Jotham Gibbon of Boston. This last- 
named deed, to which reference was made in our first 
chapter, read as follows : — 

"This testifies, that I the Sachem, which have right and possession 
of the ground which I reserved from Chariestown and Cambridge, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 97 

which Ties against the Ponds of Misticke with the said ponds, I do 
freely give to Jotham Gibbon, his heyres, executors, and assigns for- 
ever ; not willing to have him or his disturbed in the said gift after my 
death. And this I do without seeking too of him or any of his, but I 
receiving many kindnesses of them, and willing to acknowledge their 
many kindnesses by this small gift to their son, Jotham Gibbons. 
"Witness my hand, the 13th of iimo., 1636. 

" The Squa Sachem g marke. 

" Webecowit O marke. 
" Witness, Edmund Ouincy." 

Aug. I, 1637: — 

" Squa Sachem and Webber Cowet did acknowledge in court that 
they had received of Mr. Gibbins, for the town of Charlestown, 36J. 
for the land between Charlestown and Wenotomies River, which they 
acknowledge themselves to be satisfied for.'' 

Another grant, by the " Squa Sachem of Mistick," of 
lands bordering on Medford, is as follows : — 

" The 15th of the 2d mo., 1639 • Wee, Web-Cowet, and Squa Sachem 
do sell unto the inhabitants of the towne of Charlestowne all the land 
within the line granted them by the Court (excepting the farmes and 
the ground on the west of the two great ponds, called Misticke Ponds), 
from the south side of Mr. NowelFs lott, neere the upper end of the 
ponds, unto the little runnet that cometh from Capt. Cook's mills, 
which the Squa reserveth to their use for her life, for the Indians to 
plant and hunt upon ; and the weare above the ponds they also reserve 
for the Indians to fish at whiles the Scjua liveth ; and, after the death of 
Squa Sachem, she doth leave all her lands, from Mr. Mayhue's house 
to neere Salem, to the present Governor, Mr. John Winthrop, sen., 
Mr. Increase Nowell, Mr. John Willson, Mr. Edward Gibons, to dispose 
of, and all Indians to depart. And, for sattisfaction from Charlestowne, 
wee acknowledge to have received, in full sattisfaction, twenty and one 
coates, ninten fathom of wampom, and three bushels of corn. In wit- 
ness whereof, we have here unto sett oV hands the day and year above 
named. 

*' The mark of Squa Sachem, m'c. 
" The mark of Web-Cowet, m." 

This queen died in Medford before 1662, as appears from 
the following documents in the second volume of Middle- 
sex Registry of Deeds. 

" Mr. Francis Norton and Nicholas Davison (Mr. Cradock's agent) 
do, in the name of the inhabitants of Charlestown, lay claim to the tract 
of land reserved to .Squa Sachem during her lifetime, and which is at 
present possessed and improved by Thomas Gleison of Charlestown ; 
this land bounded on the east by Mystic Pond, on the west by Cam- 
bridge Common, on the south by the land of Mr. Cooke, on the north 
formerly in the possession of Mr. Increase Nowell. 

" This demand and claim was made in the person of John Fennell 



98 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

and Mr. William Sims, the 25th of March, 1662, at the house of Thomas 
Gleison. 

"Entered 29th of March, 1662, by T. Danforth. 

"Signed: "John Fenxell. 

"Wm. Simmes." 

Remnants of the Indian tribes were common till the 
beginning of the present century. Those who lived in 
Medford had their habitations in "Turkey Swamp." As 
late even as our day, farmers in Medford have ploughed up 
stone arrow-heads, stone drills, and other Indian weapons 
and tools. Near High Street, on the lawn in the rear of 
the house of the late Edward Brooks, the remains of five 
Indian skeletons were found in 1862. One was in per- 
fect condition, lying on its side, with its arms and legs 
drawn up, its head towards the west, and its face to the 
north. A stone pipe, with stem of rolled sheet-copper, 
the iron head of a fish-spear, a piece of iron, a stone skin- 
dresser or knife, the remains of a tobacco-pouch, with some 
tobacco, were also found with the bones. The skeleton 
was sent by Mr. Francis Brooks to the Museum in Cam- 
bridge, and its receipt was thus acknowledged by Professor 
Louis Agassiz : — 

" I am very much obliged to you for your kind attention in bringing 
to Cambridge the Indian skeleton found upon your place. It is highly 
interesting to me, and I shall give it a place of honor in the Museum. 
I have already put the pieces together, and find very few bones want- 
ing. Should you find other Indian relics, or even other skeletons, 
pray preserve all. Every bone, arrow-head, pipe, and the like, is valua- 
ble as part of the history of a race already gone from this part of the 
continent." 

On June 5, 1870, Mr. Marshall Symmes of Winchester, 
aged eighty, told Mr. Francis Brooks that his great-grand- 
father once saw twenty-seven lodges or wigwams on the 
old Bacon property, where the Abajona enters the upper 
pond. 

The last Indian here was Hannah Shiner, a full-blood, 
who lived, in the early part of this century, with " Old 
Toney," a worthy mulatto, whose home was on the Woburn 
Road. Hannah was kind-hearted, a faithful friend, a sharp 
enemy, a judge of herbs, a weaver of baskets, and a lover 
of rum. Hers was the typical life of the Indian when 
he comes under the influences of so-called "civilization." 
Better notions of our duty to this long-abused race are 
beginning to prevail ; and we may hope that this improved 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 99 

public sentiment will secure for the unhappy remnants of 
tribes, once owners of this continent, protection from the 
greed and cruelty of the white man, and such a training 
for the new conditions of life which confront them, as will 
give them a reasonable hope for comfort and happiness. 
Congress might well devote some of the attention it gives 
to legislation for the material interests of the country 
(interests which are generally best cared for when they are 
most let alone) to a just understanding of the nation's 
obligations to a people who are its wards, who have been 
the hapless victims of its growth and progress, and who, on 
this account alone, have the strongest claims to magnani- 
mous consideration. 



lOO HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



CHAPTER IV. 

CIVIL HISTORY. 

The Europeans took possession of different parts of 
America by the right of discovery ; and they entered upon 
lands, countries, and continents, under the claims of their 
sovereigns, and by special authority from them. The dis- 
coveries of John and Sebastian Cabot, Bartholomew Gos- 
nold, and others, were understood to give to James I. of 
England the coasts and country of New England. The king 
accordingly claimed, in the eighteenth year of his reign, the 
entire continent between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 
In that same year he granted to " the Council of Plymouth, 
in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling, ordering, 
and governing of New England in America," "all that part 
of America lying and being in breadth from forty degrees 
to forty-eight degrees of north latitude, and in length of and 
within all the breadth aforesaid throughout the mainland, 
from sea to sea," — "to be holden of him, his heirs, and 
successors, as of his manor of East Greenwich, in the County 
of Kent, in free and common socage, and not in capitc, nor 
by knight's service;" the grantees "yielding and paying 
therefor the fifth part of the ore of gold and silver which 
should happen to be found in any of the said lands." 

Medford was included in the territory granted, Dec. 30, 
1622, by the Plymouth Company to Robert Gorges. It was 
the tract, "commonly called or known by the name of the 
Messachusiack," lying "upon the north-east side of the bay 
called or known by the name of the Messachusett." It 
extended " ten English miles towards the north-east, and 
thirty English miles unto the mainland, through all the 
breadth aforesaid." 

Hutchinson says that this grant, being loose and uncer- 
tain, was never used. 

March ig, 1628: The Council of Plymouth, under their 
common seal, by a deed indented, granted and sold to Sir 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. lOl 

Henry Rosvvell and five others "all that part of New Eng- 
land, in America, which lies and extends between a great 
river thfere, commonly called Monomack (Merrimack), and 
a certain other river there, called Charles ; being in the 
bottom of a certain bay there, commonly called Massachu- 
setts." 

These are the first grants, under legal authority, of the 
territory within which Medford stands. The Council also 
sold "all the lands being within the space of three English 
miles on the south of Charles River and Massachusetts 
Bay, and within the same space on the north of the River 
Monomack, and of all parts of said rivers and bay, and from 
the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the 
west." " Upon the petition of said Henry Roswell and five 
others, and their associates, twenty in number, to have and 
to hold to them, etc., by the same tenure, and incorporated 
them by the name of ' The Governor and Company of the 
Massachusetts Bay in New England.' " 

Holding under these grants and by these titles, the Gov- 
ernor and Company of Massachusetts Bay made grants of 
lands to companies and individuals for towns and planta- 
tions, usually annexing certain conditions to their grants ; 
such as, that a certain number of settlers or families should 
within a stated time build and settle upon the same, or 
that the gospel should be regularly preached, or a church 
gathered upon the granted premises. In this manner, forty- 
four towns were constituted and established within the 
Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies before the year 1655, 
without any more formal act of incorporation. Among the 
oldest are the following: Plymouth, 1620; Salem, 1629; 
Charlestown, 1629; Boston, 1630; Medford or Mystic, 
1630; Watertown, 1630; Roxbury, 1630; Dorchester, 1630; 
Cambridge or Newton, 1633 ; Ipswich, 1634 ; Concord, 1635 ; 
Hingham, 1635; Newbury, 1635; Scituate, 1636; Spring- 
field, 1636; Duxbury, 1637; Lynn, 1637; Barnstable, 1639; 
Taunton, 1639; Woburn, 1642; Maiden, 1649. 

London, May 22, 1629: On this day " the orders for 
establishing a government and officers in Massachusetts 
Bay passed, and said orders were sent to New England." 

Although, in the first settlement of New England, 
different sections of country were owned and controlled by 
"Companies " in England, yet the people here claimed and 
exercised a corporate power in the elections of their rulers 
and maoistrates. This was the case with Medford. 



I02 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

To show what form of government onr ancestors in Med- 
ford recognized and supported, we subjoin the following 
records : — 

■"Oct. 19, 1630: First General Court of Massachusetts Colony, and 
tliis at Boston : Present, the Governor, Deputy-Governor, Sir Richard 
Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlow, Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Pynclion, Brad- 
street. Since their arrival here, the first form of their government was 
that of Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Assistants: the Patentees, 
with their heirs, assigns, and associates, being freemen. But now, in 
this General Court, they agree on a second form, as follows : proposed 
:as the best course: For the freemen to have the power of choosing 
Assistants, when they are to be chosen ; and the Assistants, from 
among themselves, to choose the Governor and Deputy-Governor, who. 
with the Assistants, to have the power of making laws, and choosing 
officers to execute the same. This was fully assented to by the general 
vote of the people and the erection of hands." 

1643 : Massachusetts Colony had thirty towns, and was 
divided into four counties, — Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, 
and Essex. 

1646 : Selectmen were empowered to try causes in a 
town where the magistrate could not, or where he was 
a party. 

The first mention of Medford in the public records of 
"the Province is the following : — 

"At a Court of Assistants at Charlestown, 28th Sept., 1630. It is 
ordered that there shall be collected and raised by distress out of the 
several plantations, for the maintenance of Mr. Patrick and Mr. Under- 
bill, the sum of ^50; viz., out of Charlton, ;i{^7 ; Boston, ^11 : Dor- 
chester, _;^7; Rockbury, ;^5 ; Watertown. _;^i i ; Meadford, ^3 ; Salem, 
,;^3; VVessaguscus, ^2 ; Nantascett, ^i."' 

It appears from the records that the inhabitants of Med- 
ford did not receive legal notice of their incorporation as 
a town till fifty years after the event. Wishing to be 
represented in the General Court, they petitioned for an 
act of incorporation, and were answered that "the town 
had been incorporated, along with the other towns of the 
province, by a 'general act' passed in 1630; and, under 
this 'act.' it had at any time a right to organize itself, and 
choose a representative without further legislation." Thus 
Medford was an incorporated town in 1630. The first, 
representative was Stephen Willis, elected Feb. 25, 1684. 
The annual meeting was always held in February. 

In the absence of early records, we are left to conjec- 
ture, from what afterwards appeared, what existed in the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 103 

earliest times. We therefore presume that the first set- 
tlers of Medforcl did as their neighbors did ; that is, organ- 
ized a municipal government, which should have the usual 
powers of levying and collecting taxes, opening and repair- 
ing roads, guarding the public interest, and securing the 
common peace. 

The mode of "warning a town-meeting," in the early 
times, may be new to many of our day. It ran thus : — 

To Mr. Stephen Hall, jun., Constable of Medford, Greeting: You 
are hereby required, in his Majesty's name, to warn the freeholders 
and other inhabitants of Medford to meet at their meeting-house, the 
first Monday of March next ensuing the date hereof, by eight o'clock 
in the morning, then and there to choose a constable, selectmen, town- 
clerk, and other town-officers, as the law directs. And all persons to 
whom the said town is indebted to bring in their accounts, and lay the 
same before the said town. And the town-treasurer for said Medford 
is hereby required to give said town at said meeting a particular ac- 
count of the disposing of the said town's money ; and whatsoever else 
may be needful, proper, and necessary to be discoursed on and deter- 
mined of at said meeting. Hereof you may not fail, as you will answer 
your default at the peril of the law. 

Dated in said Medford, Feb. 14, 1702, in the fourteenth year of his 
Majesty's reign. 

By order of the selectmen of said Medford. 

• Jno. Bradstreet, 

Toivn-clerk. 

Among the oldest records existing, we have proof of 
what we have said, as follows : — 

The first Monday of February in the year of our Lord 1677, Good- 
man John Hall was chosen constable by the inhabitants of jAIeadford 
for the year ensuing. Joseph Wade, John Hall, and Stephen Willis 
were chosen selectmen for ordering of the affairs of the plantation for 
the year ensuing. John Whitmore, Daniel Woodward, Jacob Chamber- 
lain, John Hall, jun., Edward Walker, Walter Cranston, Patrick Hay, 
Andrew Mitchell, and Thomas Fillebrown, jun., took the oath of fidelity. 

Joseph Wade, Totvn-clerk. 

This was probably the simple organization of the civil 
government of Medford soon after our ancestors found 
themselves planted in their new homes. A more complex 
form of municipal agencies was not needed, especially as 
the celebrated Rev. James Noyes preached here a year, 
and established that church-discipline which, in those days, 
took care of everybody and every thing. 

"March 8,1631. 'It is ordered that all persons whatsoever that 
have cards, dice, or tables in their houses, shall make away with them 
b'efore the next Court, under pain of punishment.' " 



I04 HISTORY OF MF.DFORD. 

"April 12, 1631 : 'Ordered, that any man that has a musket shall, 
before the eigliteenth day of this month (and always after), liave ready 
one pound powder, twenty bullets, and two fathom of match, under 
penalty of loj. for every fault.' Absence from public worship, 5^. for 
each time." 

To be a freeman was a high object with every man. 
Several of the inhabitants of Medford took the entire oath, 
and could therefore vote in the election of governor and 
assistants. At a session of the General Court, May 18, 
163 1, this remarkable vote was passed : — 

"To the end the body of Commons maybe preserved of honest and 
good men, it is likewise ordered and agreed, that, for the time to come, 
no man shall be admitted to the freedom of this body politic, but such 
as are members of some of the churches within the limits of the same." 

In another record of the court we find this dictum, still 
more puritanical : " A freeman must be orthodox, a member 
of the church, twenty years old, and worth two hundred 
pounds." This was so far changed in 1645, that the Free- 
man's Oath could be administered to a man at the age of 
si.xteen years, " the clause for the election of magistrates 
excepted." 

It will interest the reader to know what the oath referred 
to was, and it is here presented : — 

"■ Freejnaii's OatJi. — I, , being by God's providence an 

inhabitant and freeman within the jurisdiction of this Commonweal, 
do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the government thereof, 
and therefore do here swear, by the great and dreadful name of the 
ever-living God, that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will ac- 
cordingly yield assistance and support tliereunto, with mv person and 
estate, as in equity I am bound, and will also trulv endeavor to maintain 
and preserve all the liberties and privileges thereof, submitting mvself 
to the wholesome laws and orders made and established by the same ; 
and, further, that I will not plot nor practise any evil against it, nor 
consent to any that shall so do, but will timely discover and reveal the 
same to lawful authority now here established for the speedy prevent- 
ing thereof. Moreover, I do solemnly bind myself in the sight of God, 
that, when I shall be called to give my voice touching any such matter 
of this state wherein freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suf- 
frage as I shall judge in mine own conscience may best conduce and 
tend to the public weal of the body, without respect of persons, or favor 
of any man. So help me God, in the Lord Jesus Christ." 

In 1643 the Court "ordered, that, if any freeman shall 
put in more than one paper or corn for the choice of any 
officer, he shall forfeit ten pounds for every offence ; and 
any man that is not free, casting in any vote, shall forfeit 
the like sum of ten pounds." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 105 

The ballots used at elections were covjis and beans : corns, 
yeas ; beans, }iays. 

The conditions of voting in towns was fixed by the Gen- 
eral Court as early as April 17, 1729. 

"Voted, that no person but what has been rated \s. at least, to the 
last province-tax more than the poll-tax laid in said town, shall be 
admitted to vote." 

A regard for the rights of the Indians appears in many 
of the ancient records : — 

" At General Court, held at Newtowne May 14, 1634, Mr. Thomas 
Maj-hew is entreated by the Court to examine what hurt the swine of 
Charlestown hath done amongst the Indian barns of corn on the north 
side of Mystic; and accordingly the inhabitants of Charlestown prom- 
iseth to give them satisfaction." 

Laws to restrain intemperance were among the earliest 
acts of the first settlers. Nov. 5, 1639: — 

" Ordered, that every town have liberty, from time to time, to choose 
a fit man to sell wine to be drank in his house ; provided, that if any 
person shall be made drunk in any such house, or any immoderate 
drinking suffered there, the master of the family shall pay for every 
such offence five pounds." 

The lands of Medford were at first largely owned by 
non-residents ; and, because of this, much perplexity and dis- 
content arose among the tax-payers. Gifts of land within 
its boundaries had been made by the General Court to Mr. 
Cradock, and some, perhaps, to Messrs. Wilson and Nowell. 
If so, the taxes on these lands were paid by the last two 
gentlemen into the treasuries of the towns where they lived ; 
and therefore Medford could derive no profit from them. 
This mode of taxation became unpopular ; and the General 
Court passed the following law June 2, 1641 : — 

" It is ordered that all farms that are within the bounds of any town 
shall be of the town in which they lie, except M eadfoi'dP 

This partial piece of legislation bore very heavily upon 
the inhabitants of Medford. Complaint was made to the 
General Court ; and the first result was a declaration that 
Medford was "a peculiar town," (inlike any other town in 
the county. But this did not redress the grievance com- 
plained of; and on further petition they obtained, in 1684, 
an order that Medford "hav^e power, as other towns, as to 
the management of all its prudentials." 



I06 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

To illustrate what dil-ection the laws and regulations of 
Medford must have generally taken, it will be necessary to 
know those " one hundred laws " established by the General 
Court in 1641, and called "The Body of Liberties." These 
laws were drawn up by Rev. Nathaniel Ward of Ipswich, 
and Rev. John Cotton of Boston, as the most competent 
men. To show the expansion of their minds and the 
soundness of their hearts, we will give here two or three 
specimens of those laws : — 

"There shall never be any bond slavery or villanage." "If any 
good people are flying from their oppressors, they shall be succored." 
"There shall be no monopolies." "All deeds' shall be recorded." 
" No injunction shall be laid on any church, church-officer, or member, 
in point of doctrine, worship, or discipline, for substance or circum- 
stance." " In the defect of a law in any case, the decision is to be by 
the word of God.'''' 

Notwithstanding the straitened condition of the people, 
they were doing a great work. They were wiser than they 
knew. By a fortunate neglect on the part of the mother- 
country, these distant colonists were shaping their local 
politics, strengthening their ancestral faith, enforcing their 
puritan customs, and nursing a spirit of national independ- 
ence. 

April 21,1 693 : " The ' Orders and By-Laws ' prepared for 
Medford were discussed, accepted, and 'allowed.' " 

In the election of town-officers, they only could vote who 
had taken the " Oath of Fidelity;" which oath was in rela- 
tion to the town what the " Freeman's Oath " was in relation 
to the colony. It will be seen by the following record that 
their town-officers in Medford were few : — 

"March 5, 1694: Caleb Brooks was chosen constable for the year 
ensuing. Major Nathaniel Wade, Lieut. Peter Tufts, and Stephen 
Willis were chosen selectmen. John Bradshaw and John Hall, jun., 
were chosen surveyors of highways. Ensign Stephen Francis was 
chosen tything-man. John Hall, sen., and Lieut. Peter Tufts, were 
chosen viewers of fences ; and Stephen Willis, town-clerk." 

Nine persons were enough to fill all the offices in the 
town that year, including that of representative to the Gen- 
eral Court. 

The first representative was elected in 1684. The candi- 
date was " to stand for and represent them in the session 
or sessions of the General Court or Assembly appointed to 
be begun and held at Boston, on the — day of May next." 
The salary voted him for his services was three pounds. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 107 

In 1702 Mr. John Bradshaw was chosen treasurer ; and 
the office had become so responsible and onerous, that the 
town voted to make his salary ten shillings per annum ; and 
he was the first paid treasurer of the town. 

Although the early records were brief, they were often 
marked by great precision, as we may see from the minutes 
of the town-clerk, March 17, 1702, recording the action of 
the town in reckoning with Ensign John Bradshaw. On 
that day, — 

"At said meeting the town reckoned with Ensign John Bradshaw; 
and there was due to him upon tlie balance of all accounts, both for 
work done for the town, and minister's board, />-^w tlie beginning of the 
world unto this day, the sum of £\6. \6s. \od. Errors excepted." 

May 7, 1705: Stephen Willis was objected to, "because 
he voted for himself." The idea of our forefathers touching 
taxing and voting was this, that no man .should be allowed 
to vote on pecuniary affairs who held no pecuniary interest 
in the town in which he lived. To give a specimen of their 
jealous care, we transcribe the following. Twelve of the 
most respectable inhabitants of Medford, on the 4th of 
March, 1718, addressed the following memorial to the 
selectmen : — 

"Gentlemen, — Our desire and petition to you is, that our town- 
meeting may be regulated according to law ; for we know that those 
men that made the law were wiser than we are, and therefore we 
the subscribers will by no means be the breakers of the same. And 
therefore, if our town-meeting be not regulated according to law, we 
must enter this as our dissent against it" 

The selectmen replied with great promptness as fol- 
lows : — 

" In answer to the desire and request of some of our inhabitants, 
that our town-meeting may be regulated according to law, we the 
subscribers have openly declared at said meeting, that those of our 
inhabitants, and only those, that are worth, or have in possession, to the 
value of twenty pounds ratable estate, may vote at said meeting." 

" 1728: Mr. Peter Tufts, refusing to take the office of constable, 
paid in his money, as the law directs, to the town-treasury.'' 

At a later period (1751), the town voted, that, if any one 
refused to take the office to which he had been elected, he 
should pay into the treasury ;^i. 6s. 8d., lawful money. In 
1632 the people of Plymouth enact "that whoever refuses 
the office of Governor shall pay twenty pounds, unless he 
was chose two years going." 



I08 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

"March 4, 1754: Samuel Hall was chosen constable, and refused 
to serve ; and tlic town took up with five pounds, old tenor, inasmuch 
as he is a lame person." 

In the early part of the eighteenth century the town 
appears to have been in a languishing condition. Its popu- 
lation and territory were small, and efforts were made to 
enlarge them by the annexation of adjoining precincts. In 
1 7 14 a committee was chosen to petition Charlestown on 
the subject of annexing certain districts. The petitioners 
ask " for some part of Charlestown adjoining to Med^ord, on 
the north side of Mystic River." The same year, having 
received, as is supposed, an adverse reply to that petition, 
they chose another committee to examine the Province 
Records, and see if Medford has any right to land lying in 
Charlestown, and, if so, to prosecute the same at the town's 
expense. 

June 19, 1734 : Voted, that "the town petition the Great 
and General Court for a tract of the unappropriated lands 
of this Province, to enable the said town of Medford the 
better to support the ministry and the school in said town." 
A record of the reply is as follows : — 

At a Great and General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Prov- 
ince of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, begun and iield at Boston, 
upon Wednesday, the 28th of May, 1735, and continued by several 
adjournments to Wednesday, the 19th of November following, — 

20 May, 1735: A petition of the inhabitants of the town of Med 
ford, showing tliat the said town is of the smallest extent of any in the 
Province, and yet their town-charges extremely high, so that the main- 
tenance of ministry and school is very chargeable to them, and there- 
fore praying for a grant of some of the waste lands of the Province to 
be appropriated for the support of the ministry and schoolmaster in 
said town. 

In the House of Representatives, read and ordered that the prayer 
of the petition be so far granted as tiiat the town of Medford is hereby 
allowed and empowered, by a surveyor and chairman on oath, to survey 
and lay out one thousand acres of the unappropriated lands of the 
Province, and return a plat thereof to this Court, within twelve months, 
for confirmation for the uses within mentioned. 

In Council, read and concurred. Dec. 29th : Consented to, 

J. Belcher. 

A true copy, examined: 

Thade. Mason, 

Deputy Secretary, 

Previously the town, because it was small, and heavily 
taxed, had asked for assistance from the General Court. 
And in 1721 that body voted £,\6q\ which sum the town 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 109 

at once agreed to loan to its inhabitants in sums not to 
exceed ten pounds, nor to be less than five pounds, on 
interest at five per cent. 

"April 25, 1728 . It was voted that the town of Medford will take 
out of the county treasury their part of the sixty thousand pounds 
granted by the Great and General Court/' 

When the town accepted the grant of land from the 
General Court, it appointed a committee, consisting of 
William Willis and Capt. John Hall, to see to the consum- 
mation of the matter ; and a choice of lands was made on 
the Piscataqua River, near the Merrimack. The tract em- 
braced one thousand acres, and it was called the "Town's 
Farm." It was not of great value, and was not kept by 
the town more than thirteen or fourteen years. Andrew 
Hall, Capt. Samuel Brooks, and Richard Sprague were made 
a committee to dispose of it ; but the amount they obtained 
does not appear on the existing records. 

We give in this place another petition presented by 
Medford to the General Government, asking for additional 
territory : — 

To his Excellency William Shij-lev, Esq., Captain-Ge7ieral and Gov- 
ertwr-in-Chief in and oner his Afajesfy's Province of the Massachu- 
setts Bay, in New England, to the Honorable his Majesty's Coiatcil, 
and to the Honorable House of Representatives. 
The petition of the inhabitants of the town of Medford, in the County 
of Middlesex, humbly showeth that there are certain tracts of land 
lying on the southerly and northerly sides of said Medford, which are 
l)Ounded as follows ; viz., the southerly tract, lying in Charlestown, is 
bounded northerly with Mistic or Medford River, westerly with the 
westerly bounds of Mr. Smith's farm, southerly with the southerly 
bounds of Mr. Smith's, Mr. James Tufts's, and Mr. Jonathan Tufts's 
farms, and then running from the south-easterly corner of said Jonathan 
Tufts's farm eastward straight to the westerly side of Col. Royal's 
farm, again westerly with the westerly bounds of Col. Royal's farm, 
again southerly with its southerly bounds, and then running from the 
southeasterly corner thereof, eastward, straight to Medford River. 

The northerly tract, lying also in Charlestown, is bounded southerly 
with said Medford's northerly line and the southerly bounds of Mr. 
Symmes's farm, westerly with the line that divides Mr. Symmes's from 
Mr. Gardner's farm, northerly with Woburn and Stoneham lines, east- 
erly on Maiden line. 

Which lands, with their inhabitants, we pray may be added to the 
contracted limits of the said town of Medford, together with a propor- 
tional)le part of the said town of Charlestown's rights and privileges, 
according to the quantit\ and circumstances of said lands : at least, 
those pieces of land, and the privileges, which are within the lands 
hereby petitioned for. 



I lO HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

And inasmuch as the said town of Charlestown has conveyed the 
land called the gravel-pit, with the marsh adjoining, containing about 
half an acre, that they used for getting gravel, laying timber, etc., for 
the southerly half of the bridge commonly called Alistic Bridge, and the 
"Causey " thereto adjoining, to Capt. Aaron Cleaveland and Mr. Samuel 
Kendal; for which consideration they have covenanted and agreed 
with the said town of Charlestown to keep the half of the bridge and 
the " Causey " aforesaid in good condition forever : 

We pray, that, in case the before-described lands are laid to said 
Medford, it may not be subjected to any cost or charges on account of 
the before-mentioned part of said bridge and the Causey adjoining. 

Which petition we humbly conceive will appear reasonable by what 
follows : — 

First, The contents of the said town of Medford are exceedingly 
small, amounting to but about two thousand acres, the inhabitants very 
few, and consequently its charges very great, compared with other 
towns. Besides, as to brick-making, upon which our trading and a great 
part of our other business depends, it very much fails. 

Secondly, The said town of Charlestown almost encompasses the 
town of Medford, and therefore (notwithstanding the great necessity) 
it cannot receive large addition from any other town. 

Thirdly, Those that now dwell on the said tracts of land, and those 
who heretofore dwelt on them, have from time to time enjoyed the 
liberty of attending the public worship in Medford without paving any 
thing to the taxes there. Neither is there any probability that any 
of the inhabitants of said lands, or any other persons that may settle 
on them, can with any conveniency attend the public worship in any 
other town. Moreover, the inhabitants of the said southerly tract are 
within about half a mile of said Medford meeting-house, — the greatest 
part of them, — and the rest within a mile. 

And the inhabitants of the northerly tract before mentioned are, the 
farthest of them, but about two miles from said meeting-house. And 
great part of the lands in both the said tracts are now owned and 
possessed by those who are with us in this petition, and some of the 
inhabitants of said Medford. 

Besides, we apprehend it to be a very great hardship for the inhab- 
itants of said tracts of land to be obliged to go, almost all of them, more 
than four miles, and others more than seven miles, to town-meetings, 
trainings, etc. 

Furthermore, we would humbly move that some of the honorable 
members of the General Assembly may be appointed to view the 
premises petitioned for, etc. 

In consideration of what is before mentioned, and other moving 
arguments that might be used in this affair, we hope your Excellency 
and Honors, in your great wisdom and goodness, will grant our petition. 
Although the inhabitants of said Charlestown have not been pleased 
to be so free (when petitioned) as to let us know whether they would 
gratify us herein or not. 

So shall your petitioners, as in duty bound, ever pray. 

Caleb Brooks. Jonathan Tufts. 

Benjamin Pakkek. John Jenks. 

Benjamin Teal. Rohekt Ckane. 

James Tufts. John Degkushy. 
Ehenezer Marrow. 

Medford, Dec. 13, 1753. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. Ill 

We the subscribers, being owners of a considerable part of the 
said lands, and having dwelling-houses thereon, do hereby signify that 
we heartily join with the inhabitants of Medford in the foregoing 
petition. 

Samuel Brooks, ] 
Ebenezer Brooks, r- 
Z. Pool, \ /"Z'" '% 

Joseph Tufts, >'' ^^'^^^/<^''^- 

Stephen Hall, J 

This petition was granted April 17, 1754, giving to the 
town all its territory south of the Mystic, 

Although Medford greatly needed and desired to have 
more inhabitants, she did not allow strangers to take up 
their residence without careful inquisition touching their 
character. The right of citizenship was something to be 
jealously guarded, and it was the custom to warn every 
new-comer out of town. It was a strange manifestation of 
hospitality, but it was a legal method by which to prevent 
persons liable to become town-charges from gaining a set- 
tlement. The notification was also sent to the Court of 
Sessions, and there recorded under the name of "Caution." 
This habit continued till the time of the Revolution. Pau- 
pers were kept out by the most stringent prohibitions. The 
town voted, that if any person, male or female, omitted to 
comply with the law respecting admission, such person 
should be fined forty shillings. 

P'rom the start, the people were jealous of any invasion 
of the rights secured to them by the charter, and gave some 
of the earliest expressions of enlightened patriotism, and 
presented a firm attitude of resistance to the encroachments 
of royal authority. An instance of this kind is recorded as 
follows : — 

"Jan. 31, 1732: Voted, that it was declared by the inhabitants 
that it was their desire that their representative should at all times act 
with the greatest caution, and stand for the defence of the privileges 
granted us by his Majesty in the royal Charter." 

" Aug. 5, 1 754 : Voted, that the part of the Excise Bill of his Majesty 
which relates to the private consumption of wine and spirits shall not 
be in full force." 

This seems to smack of rebellion, but it was not so 
intended. The people stood by their rights under the 
charter, and gave to every provision therein such a con- 
struction as the spirit of the whole instrument seemed to 
justify. 



112 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Progress was made from year to year in all formal pro- 
ceedings, and we give here another record of a town-meet- 



ins:. 



At a town-meeting legally convened at Medford, March 7, 174S, 
Mr. Andrew Hall was chosen Moderator. 



Dea. Renj. Willis, 1 

Capt. Samuel Brooks, > Selectmen. 

Lieut. Stephen Hall, ) 

Thomas Seccomb, Town-clerk. 

Benj. Parker, Town-treasurer. 

Joseph Tufts, ) 

Thos. Brooks, [ Assessors. 

Edward Hall, ) 

Stephen Willis, chosen Constable, refused to 

serve, and paid £\o, old tenor. 
Francis Whitmore, 2d Constable, but refused 

to serve, and paid ;{^io, old tenor. 
Samuel Reeves, 3d Constable. He refused to 

serve, and paid ^10, old tenor 



Samuel Brooks, jun, J 

William Tufis, J Fence-viewers. 

John Hall, ) 

Stephen CJreenleaf, 1 

John Bishop, > Hog-reeves. 

Ebenezer Francis, ) 

John Tufts, i 

Jacob Polly, J Wood-corders. 

Thomas Brooks, ) 

Jonathan Watson, ^ Surveyors of Boards and 

Capt. Saml. Brooks, \ Timber. 

Samuel Reeves, Pound-keeper. 

Samuel Francis, t Haywards, or Field-drivers. 
Benjamm lults, ' ' ' 



Samuel Page", hired to serve as Constable, for Simon Bradshaw, ) jjggr-reeves 

JC25, old tenor. Joseph Tufts, 1 

Jonathan Hall, / -r- u- \^^^. Thomas Hall, Sealer of Leather, 

Henry Fowle, \ ^'Ihing-men. 1 ye„jan,in Parker, Sealer of Weights and 

Stephen Bradshaw, 1 j Measures. 

Lieut. John Francis, > Surveyors of Highways. ] Stephen Bradshaw, Grand juror. 
Stephen Greenleaf, ) 



Andrew Hall, Esq., 
Capt. Samuel Brooks, 
Lieut. Stephen Hall, jun. 
Zechariah Poole, 
Ebenezer Brooks, 

{oseph Tufts, 
.ieut. Stephen Hall, jun., 
Thomas Brooks, 



A Committee to manage the affair of obtaining some part of the 
■' lands now belonging to Charleslown, with the iiihabiiants 
thereon. 

A Committee to audit the Town-treasurer's accounts for the year 
past, 1747, and the town's accounts likewise- 



In 1768, it was "voted that a committee be chosen to 
draw up and lay before the town some salutary method or 
plan for discouraging extravagance, and promoting indus- 
try and frugality amongst us." The committee made the 
following report : — 

We the subscribers, being chosen a committee to consider of 
some method to discourage extravagance, idleness, vice, etc., and pro- 
mote industry and frugality, do present the following resolves, passed 
in the House of Representatives Feb. 26, 17OS, for an example to this 
town. 

In the House of Representatives, Feb. 26, 176S. Whereas the 
happiness and well-being of civil communities depend upon industry, 
economy, and good morals : and this House taking into serious con- 
sideration the great decay of the trade of the Province, the scarcity 
of money, the heavy debt contracted in the late war still remaining 
on the people, and tiie great difficulties by which they are by these 
means reduced : therefore 

Resolved, That this House will use their utmost endeavors, by 
e.\am])le, in suppressing extravagances, idleness, and vice, and pro- 
moting industry, economy, and good morals, in their respective towns. 
And in order to prevent tlie unnecessary exportation of money, of 
which this Province has been of late years so much drained, it is 
further resolved, that this House will, by all prudent means, endeavor 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 1 1 3; 

to discountenance the use of foreign superfluities, and encotiraoe the- 
matmfactures of this Province. 

Thomas Seccomb. Samuel An-gier.. 

Ben'jamin Hall. Joh\ Bishop. 

Joshua Simoxds. Willis Hall.. 
Thomas Brooks. 

Medford, April I, 1768. 

The town-meeting was from earliest days a marked 
occasion for the boys. Tlie school had the day as a vaca- 
tion. The gallery of the meeting-house was ornamented 
with urchins from six years old to half-men of fifteen, who 
had come there to learn unconsciously the science o£ 
republicanism. The front seats were all filled, and each 
boy was eagerly watching the progress of events below. 
If a new road, wharf, grist-mill, engine, schoolhouse, or 
candidate was to be brought forward for discussion, the 
boys had already taken sides on the question, and waited 
impatiently for its introduction to the meeting. When the 
long-delayed debate ensued, each gallery politician swelled 
with joy and hope as a favorite speaker rose. This ebbing 
and flowing of youthful emotions were the republican edu- 
cational influences brought to bear on the boys of every 
village ; and the lad of twelve years felt an interest in poli- 
tics, while he of twenty had settled his choice of party and 
men, and was ready to vote understandingly. The absence 
of this republican pupilage in Europe makes a proper repub- 
lic there almost an impossibility. 

All town-meetings were warned in " his Majesty's name " 
until 1776, after which our fathers ceased to recognize roy- 
alty as a power among them. The form first substituted 
was, " In the name of the government and people of Massa- 
chusetts Bay." 

By comparing the ofiticers in Medford, as seen in the years- 
1748 and 1782, it will appear that the separation from Eng- 
land made not the slightest difference in the municipal 
organization or modes of elections. The only change dis- 
coverable is, that, before the " Declaration of Independ- 
ence," the town-meetings were warned " in his Majesty's 
name," but after 1776 they were warned "in the name and 
by the authority of the people," and, after the adoption of 
the Constitution, "in the name of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts." The need of no change in their politi- 
cal system shows that the first plan of town-officers and 
municipal elections was based upon the idea of republi- 



!II4 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



-can equality, and submission to popular majorities. True 
•democracy grew up as a necessity among our fathers ; and 
.from these town organizations resulted a true republican 
>ed.ucation, out of which "independence " grew. Enlarged 
rand Christian patriotism is the result of wise and liberal 
town administrations. We cannot too highly prize our 
separate town municipalities. They are the primary 
schools of the republic, and do for the state what indi- 
viduals do for the family. 

By comparing the result of the town-meeting held in 
1748 with that of another held in 1782, the reader will see 
an increase in the number of town-officers. The record of 
the election runs as follows : — 

At a town-meeting legally convened in Aledford, March 4, 1782, 
Benjamin Hall, Esq., chosen Moderator ; Richard Hall, Town-clerk. 



Benjamin Hall, Esq.,) 

John Bishop, | 

Joshua Simonds, ^Selectmen. 

Capt. Ebenezer Hall, | 

Richard Hall, J 

Jonathan Patten, Treasurer. 

Joshua Simonds, 1 

Willis Hall, 

James Wyman, ^Assessors. 

Moses Hilhngs, I 

Capt. Samuel Brooks, J 

Jonathan Foster, / Constables. 

James lults, jun., \ 

Moses Hall, / n-.i • „ 
1 T <■. i lithing-men. 

Isaac 1 ufts, S ^ 

Hezekiah Blanchard, 

Thomas Bradshaw, 

Capt. Caleb Brooks, 

Gershom Williams, 

Timothy N'ewhall, 

Xoah Kloyd, 

James Willey, 

Hutcherson Tufts, 

Ebenezer Thompson, 

Noah Kloyd, 1 

Nathan Tufts, i tt 

■ci Ti > Hog-reeve: 

Ebenezer Ihompson, ( ° 

Hutchinson Tufts, J 

Moses Hall, Surveyor of Hoops. 



Surveyors of High- 
ways. 

Fence-viewers. 
Field-drivers. 



Samuel Kidder, 1 

William Burditt, > Surveyors of Lumber. 

Benjamin Floyd, jun , ) 

William Bradshaw, Pound-keeper. 

Timothy, Newhall, Sealer of Weights and 

Measures. 
Samuel Reeves, ") 
Thomas Bradshaw, [ 
John Fulton, )■ Wood-corders. 

Moses Hall, | 

Sergt. Blanchard, J 
John Wade, Deer-reeve, 
Gardner tlreenleaf, i Cp-i.^ nf T p-ithpr 
John Leathe, ^ ^^""^^^ °* Leather. 

Jonathan Foster, J 
Jonathan Patten, > Bread-weighers. 
Ebenezer Hall, jun , ) 

RKhard^Hall, I T° --^"dit the Treasurer's 
T iiT I Accounts 

James Wyman, ; 

Moses Hall, Salt-measurer. 
Capt. Caleb Brooks, CJrand juror. 
Simon Tufts, Esq., "| 
Capt. Ebenezer Hall, j 
Richard Hall, ) Fire-wardens. 

Willis Hall, I 

Capt Isaac Hall, I 

Benjamin Tufts, Collector: fees, five pence 
per pound. 



There are some offices named in the town-records up to 
this time which were once common in all New-England 
towns, but which are now unknown. The office of tithing- 
uian is one of them. It was a title given to a parish offi- 
cer who was annually elected to keep order in the church 
during divine service, and to make complaint of any inde- 
corum. The writer can recollect such an officer ; and one 
duty which he performed was that of rousing u]) the sleepy 
ones during a long sermon, by a gentle touch with his long 
cane, or tithing-rod. Disorderly boys and girls also received 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 115 

his attention, and sometimes the touch with his rod was 
not very Hght. 

The reader may desire to know why such an officer 
should have been elected by the town, and not by the 
churches ; and the answer is significant. In the early 
days of the New-England townships, there was usuallv but 
one church in the town ; and everybody had t ) contribute 
to its support. When the town became so populous that 
two churches were needed to accommodate the worshippers, 
they were both of the same denomination ; and the people 
had to pay towards the support of one or the other : there- 
fore the town looked after the good order of its church or 
churches. It should be remembered too, that, for a long 
time, only church-members were voters ; so that the church 
and parish were identical. 

Hog-rccvcs also are officers unknown in our day. They 
were appointed by the town in open town-meeting, and 
were to have in charge the hogs which were allowed to run 
at large. If the owners did not properly restrain them, 
they were liable to do mischief to the lands and crops, and 
it became important that, the town should see to them. 
Hog-reeves, therefore, had to keep them out of poorly fenced 
enclosures by putting a yoke on their necks ; and to prevent 
the hogs from rooting up grass, vegetables, yards, and paths, 
wire rings were put in their noses. 

Indeed, at town-meetings, the people in their corporate 
capacity endeavored to regulate every thing ; and some of 
their regulations seem almost ludicrous to those holding 
present ideas. We give in this place an example of a 
sumptuary law passed by the town Aug. 29, 1779, — only 
a little more than a hundred years ago, — by which the 
prices of certain things were fixed. The prices may seem 
extravagant ; but they are set down in a depreciated cur- 
rency, the value of which we shall explain in another 
place. The established rates were as follows : — 

Tailors, for making a suit of clothes for a man £\^. os. 

Blacksmith, shoeing a horse all round ^'4. io.f. 

West-India toddy, one bowl i8j-. 

West-India flipp, one mug i<'^J. 

New-England toddy, per bowl 12.S. 

New-England flipp, a mug \-s. 

Breakfast iNy. 

Common meat supper -o,*'. 

It is evident that the products of the still played an 
important part in the dietary system of our fathers. 



Il6 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The method of collecting taxes from unwilling debtors 
was peculiar, and sometimes severely effectual. When a 
person would not pay, the constable was commanded to 
take his goods, and sell them "at an outcry for payment," 
— public auction. There were instances where this matter 
was carried to an extreme, especially in the collection of the 
religious tax ; for in the early colonial times many a man 
had his only cow taken, and sold at "an outcry for pay- 
ment" to cancel his parish tax. But this action was not 
the result of any partiality to clergymen, as will be seen 
by the following item of the Medford town-records. 

May 13, 1773 : The new question arose, whether a cler- 
gyman not settled, nor ministering to any parish, should 
be freed from taxation. After much reflection, the town 
"voted not to abate Rev. Mr. Edward Brooks's poll-tax." 
Many other votes of the town show progress in the regu- 
lation of town business. 

March 7, 1796: Voted to pay assessors two dollars per 
day while making taxes. This is the first record of the 
kind. 

March 6, 1797 : For the first time the town voted to pay 
the town-clerk for his services ; and they gave him twenty 
dollars. 

1828 : Heretofore the selectmen had met at times agreed 
upon by themselves ; but now the town voted, "that it shall 
henceforth be the duty of the selectmen to meet on the 
first Monday of every month for business ; " and no busi 
ness shall be done by them at other times. 

" May 7, 1836 : Voted, that in future the practice or cus- 
tom of allowing the town-officers an annual supper at the 
town's expense be dispensed with. 

April 6, 1840: The town adopted the following by- 
laws : — 

"I. If any one deface a building, fence, etc., he shall be fined not 
more than twenty dollars. 

'•2. If any one neglect to keep in repair anv cellar-door which 
projects into the street, he shall be fined twenty dollars. 

"3. If any cellar-door be left open in the night, without a light to 
reveal it, the owner shall be fined twenty dollars. 

"4. No awnings to project more than eight feet from the front 
wall. 

"5. No gate swing across the street, and no coal left on sidewalk ; 
penalty, five dollars. 

"6. Notice to build shall be given ; penalty, five dollars. 
• "7. No post put up in the street without permission from the 
selectmen ; penalt}-, ten dollars. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 117 

" 8. No obstructions of the street; penalty, five dollars. 

" 9. No dirt, ashes, etc., put in the streets ; penalty, ten dollars. 

" 10. No wheelbarrow or cart on sidewalks; penalty, five dollars. 

"11. Snowballing, throwing stones, etc., whereby persons may be 
annoyed in the streets ; penalty, five dollars. 

" 12. No bathing in exposed places; penalty, five dollars. 

" 13. Fast driving forbidden ; penalty, ten dollars. 

" 14. Clerk of the market shall be appointed annually. 

" 15. Dogs without a collar, between May i and Oct. i, to be killed 
by the police. 

" 16. No dog shall disturb any neighborhood, and after being warned, 
penalty one dollar for each day after notice is served. 

" 17. Police shall see to the peace of the town, and complain of all 
disorderly boys. 

" 18. All fines to be paid into the treasury." 

While these by-laws show the care of the inhabitants of 
Medford for externals, the following votes show a deeper 
care for moral interests : — 

"Feb. 13, 1843: Voted, that all good citizens should cease using 
spirituous and intoxicating liquors, and should unite to prosecute those 
who sell them." 

"March 8, 1847: Voted, that a committee of twelve be chosen to 
enforce the License Law. 

" Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to oppose the granting of 
licenses for the sale of intoxicating drinks in this town, and draw on 
the treasury for all necessary expenses in this duty. 

"Voted, that said committee prosecute without lenity in all cases 
of the breach of the License Law. 

"Voted, that the overseers of the poor be instructed not to purchase 
anv thing for the poor and almshouse, where intoxicating drinks are 
sold." 

July 19, 1852: — 

" Whereas the Legislature of this Commonweflth passed, at the last 
session, a law for the suppression of places for the sale of intoxicating 
drinks : therefore 

" Resolved, That the officers of this town be instructed to execute 
the law in every instance of its violation." 

Feb. 15, 1855 : — 

" The town-agency for the sale of spirituous liquors [say the 
selectmen] has been in existence two and a half years. The agent 
has given general satisfaction. The experiment thus far has been 
satisfactory, and the agency is sufficient to meet all the reasonable 
demands of the inhabitants for spirituous liquors.'' 

The next record of a town-meeting which we shall 
insert is of that which was held March 5, 18 10, when the 
following officers were chosen for the year ensuing : — 



ii8 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Fitch Hall, Moderator. 

Abner Hartlclt, Town-clerk. 

Nalhaii Wait, \ 

Fitch Hall, I 

Jonathan Brooks, \ Selectmen. 

Luther Stearns, 1 

Benjamin Tufts, J 

Joseph Manning, Treasurer. 

Caleb Brooks, ] 

Ephraim Bailey, (-Assessors. 

Joseph Swan, J 

Nathan Wait. j Constables. 

Joseph Wyman, S 

Jetiuthan Richardson, \ Surveyors of High- 

Sanuiel Tufts, jun., \ ways. 

Gershoni Teel, \ t-.i • 

I Til 11 iitnmg-men. 

James 1. lloyu, \ " 



Andrew Blanchard, ) Cullers of Hoops and 

William I'radbury, j Staves. 

Benjamin Tufts, J 

JciUithan Richardson, > Fence-viewers. 

Joseph Wyman, ) 

Jonathan Harrington,") 

Calvin Turner, | 

Thatcher iMagoon, 

Timothy iJexter, 

John Dixen, | 

Darius Wait, I 

Jonathan Harrington,") 

Timothy Dexter, j 

John Barrage, |^ Measurers of Wood. 

Ephraim Bailey, 

Joseph Church, 

Jonathan Warner, 



\ Surveyors of Lumber. 



It will be seen from the above, that the choice of a 
" tithing--man " was continued up to the time of this meet- 
ing ; but that officer was soon afterwards dispensed 
with. 

Expenses. — The first book kept by the treasurer is lost. 
From the second, which begins in 1729, and others of later 
date, the following items of expenses are taken. The mod- 
ern modes of book-keeping were not known to our fathers. 
There were sometimes two or three rates made in a year, 
varying from twenty to two hundred pounds. The money 
collected by the constable was paid into the treasury ; but 
the accounts of the treasurer were not examined until a new 
treasurer was chosen. Then a committee was appointed to 
examine the accounts, and transfer the books. A natural 
consequence of such book-keeping was, that the accounts 
of one year ran into those of the next ; and, thus mixed up, 
the items of several years were summed up in one footing. 
After 1775 more regularity obtained. Another fact should 
be noticed in the following accounts, — the bewildering 
depreciation in the value of money. For fluctuations in 
the currency, see the tables. 



Old Tc7wr. 



Samuel r?rooks, trea.surer from 1729 to 1732. Amount 

paid for town-expenses, three years _j{^i.446 9 

Ebenezer Brooks, treasurer from 1735 to 1743. Amount 

paid for town-expenses, eii^ht years 2,265 o 

Benjamin Parker, treasurer from 1743 to 1749, Amount 

paid for town-expenses, six years 4,886 10 



1 761 to 1767, Amount 



Aaron Hall, treasurer from 

paid for town-expenses . 
James Wyman, treasurer from 1767 to 1771. Amount 

paid for town-expenses, four years 2,16212 2 



Lau'ful Money. 

674 19 7 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. II9 

In these four years (1767 to 1771) are included a por- 
tion of the expenses of building the meeting-house, in 
1769. The pews paid the greater part of the cost. 

Lawful Money. 

Expenses from 1771 to 1772 ^5S8 3 4 

" 1777 to 1778 1,414 4 4 

" " 1778 to 1779 (by tax) 3,061 iS 6 

Borrowed 2,850 o o 

(Depreciated money) S)3ii 18 6 

1779. Expenses (raised by tax) 8,814 o o 

Borrowed 8,635 4 4 

Extra expenses on account of the war .... 17,449 4 4 

1780. Raised by tax 101,401 19 10 

Borrowed 5,383 7 o 

(Depreciated money) 106,785 6 10 

1786. March, to March, 17S7 i,44o 15 o 

1790. Expenses of town for one year 861 5 6 

1800. " " " " " $3,188 II 

1810. " " " " " 4,317 16 

1820. " " " " " 5,348 ^z 

1830. " " " » « 5^608 93 

1835. " " " « " 15,300 15 

1840. " " " " " 17,314 21 

1845. " " " " " 20,004 26 

1850. " " " " " 15,186 18 

All the public buildings now in use have been erected 
since 1820, such as the Town-House, schoolhouses, engine- 
houses, etc. ; and by the erection of them, the opening of 
new streets, and the building of bridges, the town expenses 
have been increased year by year. 

It may be interesting to compare the expenses of 18 18 
and 1884. They are as follows. For 1818 : — 

Minister's salary and grant of wood $500 00 

Poor 1,225 46 

Paid Charlestown for paupers 241 00 

Roads 507 63 

Schools 740 00 

Abatement of taxes 258 47 

Town-officers 150 00 

Collecting taxes 270 00 

Expenses for opposing a new road 150 00 

Interest on town-debt 141 00 

For injury of horse on drawbridge 50 00 

Sexton 25 00 

Miscellaneous expenses 94 56 

Total $4,353 12 



120 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

The expenses of the year ending Jan. 31, 1S84, were as 
follows : — 

Almshouse and outside relief $7,5-7 n 

Fire-department 5-374 29 

Higluvays and new streets 9-791 93 

Interest 10,084 97 

Police-department 4,947 03 

Public schools 29,021 68 

Street-lamps 3-983 06 

Water-works 10,500 00 

Other departments and miscellaneous expenses . . . 37-779 15 

Total $119,009 22 

Mcdford a Tozvn fjVDi theTime of its Settlement. — Froth- 
ingham, in his excellent " History of Charlestown " {p. 92), 
says, " Medford was not a town : it was rather a manor, 
owned by one of the leading inhabitants of Charlestown." 

We shall very good naturedly dissent from this statement, 
and show cause. 

We have every reason to suppose that the town-ofificers 
in Medford were like those in the adjoining plantations. 
Our first records speak of selectmen, sometimes called 
" Sevenmen," because these seven men acted as governors 
of the town, assessors, and referees. They were also called 
"Townsmen," because they represented the whole town, 
and acted for the inhabitants. There was a town-clerk, 
who recorded the doings of the selectmen and the town, 
and also granted attachments in civil actions. There were 
surveyors of highways, whose duty it was not only to direct 
the laborers, but to see that every one did his share. There 
was the constable, who warned public meetings, and col- 
lected the taxes. 

In the town-meetings, which were always opened with 
prayer by a deacon or some aged member of the church, a 
moderator presided. Fines were imposed for non-attend- 
ance. Each one had an equal right to speak. The Court 
ordered, in 1641, that "every man, whether inhabitant or 
foreigner, free or not free, shall have liberty to prefer a 
petition, bring forward a motion, or make a complaint, so 
it be done in convenient time, due order, and respectful 
manner." 

The voting related mainly to making fences, laying out 
roads, regulating the pasturage of cattle, ringing the swine, 
killing wolves, bears, and foxes, and assessing rates. All 
these acts of the assembled inhabitants imply the posses- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 121 

sion of legal, civil, and political rights, — just the rights 
which constitute a regularly organized body politic. 

When Deputy-Gov. Dudley, and those with him, came 
to this neighborhood, they visited several places : they 
named one Boston, another Charlestown, another Meadford, 
another Roxbury, another Watertown, and another Dor- 
chester. On Wood's map of 1635, Medford is designated 
by the same mark as all other towns. Each of these places 
above named became towns, and each in the same way, — 
by becoming settlements ; and each claimed, and each as a 
town possessed, the same legal, civil, political, and muni- 
cipal rights. In proof that each of them was a town, sep- 
arate and distinct, and was so considered, and so treated 
by the General Court, each one of them was taxed by the 
General Court as early as Sept. 28, 1630, and each one 
continued to be so taxed. The Court put each one of them 
on the list of towns, and passed separate laws relating to 
each. If this does not constitute legal township, we know 
not what can. In these several towns there must have 
been municipal laws and regulations for levying and gath- 
ering the amounts assessed. If either of these towns had 
been only an appendage to its neighbor, it would have been 
so considered by its inhabitants, so organized in its mu- 
nicipal government, and so treated by the General Court. 
But this was not the case with either of them. At this 
early period, not a foot of land in Medford was owned by 
any inhabitant of Charlestown. We have elsewhere shown 
who were the several purchasers after the death of Mr. 
Cradock. There is therefore no just warrant for consid- 
ering Medford as "a manor," any more than Roxbury or 
Watertown. The early owners in these towns were few. 
Medford was never called " a manor " till Frothingham gave 
it that name. In all the old histories it is called a "town," 
in precisely the same way as Boston and Dorchester. If 
it was not a town after the passing of the "Act " of the 
General Court, it is not a town now ; for it has never been 
incorporated since. And, if it was not a town then, Boston, 
Roxbury, Charlestown, Dorchester, and Watertown are not 
towns iioiv ; for they have never been incorporated since. 

It was called a " plantation," as other places were, because 
this was a common name adopted by the company in 
London, and very naturally transferred here. The name 
expressed the actual condition and incipient history of each 
town. It was sometimes, in the books, called Mistick, 



122 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

after the name of its river. It was sometimes called " Mr. 
Cradock's Farm," because that gentleman had introduced 
farmers to cultivate its lands, had impaled a park, had 
erected houses, built ships, and carried on an extensive 
fishery. He owned so large a part of the tract, and was 
so rich and distinguished, that it would have been strange 
if his name had not attached to it. We have wondered 
why the town has not always been called by his name. 

The "celebrated Rev. James Noyes " became the pastor 
and teacher of the inhabitants of Medford in 1634. If 
having a Christian minister resident and laboring in a town 
completed the idea of township in those days, then Med- 
ford surely had every thing required in the definition. 

Let us now look at the earliest records of Medford, and 
see what they prove. The first twenty-five or thirty pages 
of the first book of records are unfortunately lost, probably 
from carelessness about loose and decayed sheets. We 
find the first records which are preserved, noting down 
methodically, after the manner of those days, the usual 
doings of a legal town-meeting. No one can examine the 
old book, and not see that there was uniformity in the town- 
clerk's records. It is most clear, that the earliest records 
which are preserved are the regular continuation of the 
earlier ones which are lost. And what do we find in the 
oldest records .'' We find the selectmen calling the annual 
town-meeting, in his Majesty s name, to choose the usual 
officers for the regulation of town-affairs, etc. The town 
speaks of itself as a town, taxes itself as a town, petitions 
the General Court as a town, and makes its laws like other 
towns, and never is there the slightest hint that Medford 
is "not a town, but rather a manor." In the early and 
tedious controversy about the Mystic Bridge, its neighbors 
treated with it as a town ; its inhabitants took the oath of 
fidelity, and its municipal organization conformed, to the 
laws of the Colony. 

The author of the "History of Charlestown" says of 
Medford, that "the toivn, in 1638, commenced a suit," etc. 
Here Medford is called a town, in 1638, by Frothingham 
himself, and is represented by him as acting in its corporate 
capacity in a legal process before the Quarter Court. If it 
had been only a " manor," its lord or owner could alone have 
taken such action. 

The same inference follows, if we turn to the acts of the 
General Court. From 1630 the Court considered Medford 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 123 

a town, and treated it accordingly ; and, when the inhabit- 
ants petitioned for an act of incorporation, the Legislature 
sent them the following reply, — that " the tozvn had been 
incorporated, along with the other towns of the Province, 
by a general 'Act,' passed in 1630; and under this Act it 
had at any time a right to organize itself, and choose a 
representative, without further legislation." Here the 
highest authority of the Colony solemnly and emphatically 
declares Medford to be a town, a regularly incorporated town 
by the savie " Act " as that for Boston, Charlestown, Water- 
town, Roxbury, and Dorchester. Thus Medford had been 
from 1630 an incorporated town, possessing all the civil, 
political, and municipal rights consequent on that " Act." 

Frothingham says, " All printed authorities speak of 
Medford as a tozuji,2ind date its incorporation in 1630; but 
this appears to be an error." We are content to follow, 
in this matter, "all printed authorities" and t/ic decision 
of the Legislature, and leave the novel supposition of 1846 
to stand alone. 

Medford was called a /rr/z/Zc?/' town : but its peculiarity 
did not consist in being stripped of its political rights and 
corporate organizations ; for, in the very enactment which 
calls it "peculiar," the General Court say it shall "have 
power as otlier toivns, as to prudentials." If it had rights 
"as other towns," and was treated by the Legislature "as 
other towns," in what did its peculiarity consist 1 This 
question is easily answered. Its peculiarity consisted in 
having the major part of its territory owned by one gen- 
tleman, and he a resident in London. Mr. Cradock, the 
strongest and wealthiest friend of the Colony, had this 
grant of land in partial remuneration for his great outlays 
for the company. He was sometimes excused from taxes. 
Here was another peculiarity, but no Vv'ithdrawal or relin- 
quishment of vested rights. This fact rendered town-laws 
more important. It required very strong and peculiar laws 
to regulate the fishermen, coopers, ship-carpenters, and 
farmers whom Mr. Cradock had established here. Such 
laws could not be enforced, except by a proper civil author- 
ity, and such authority every thing proves to have existed. 

Mr. Cradock's grants were not made till 1634-35 ; but 
Medford was taxed " as other tozvns " in 1630. Here, there- 
fore, were four or five years in which it acted as an incor- 
porated town before Mr. Cradock came into possession 
of his grant. During those four or five years it could not 



124 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

have been a "manor." But at that time it became a town ; 
which character it has possessed to this day unbroken, and 
which character was stamped upon it " by a general act " 
of the government in 1630, and 7ioiv remains in force. 

Causes of New-England Prosperity. — After the English 
Parliament had assembled in 1640, the persecutions of the 
Puritans were stopped. Deep policy suggested this change 
of affairs in England ; and a consequence was, that emigra- 
tion to New England largely ceased, and was not renewed 
with any spirit till 1773. New England, therefore, was 
principally peopled by the descendants of those who emi- 
grated between 1620 and 1640; and this fact we would 
mention as the first cause of prosperity. The population 
was homogeneous, and it inherited all the force and vigor of 
the original stock. 

Another cause of prosperity to New England was found 
in the institution of families. Each family was a unit, a 
state, a church ; and the father was both patriarch and 
priest. In these free and Christian families arose that 
intelligent and stubborn enterprise which could turn a 
wilderness into a garden, and barbarism into civilization. 
These families, unfettered and individualized, were happy 
to unite with all around them for the surer attainment of 
their common end. 

The establishment of free schools was another most 
powerful cause of prosperity to New England. This origi- 
nal idea had potency enough to work out the highest re- 
sults of private and social good, the profoundest problems 
of life, government, and religion. It began in the right 
way, at the right place : it put the lever where it could move 
the world. Free churches became the continuation of free 
schools, taking up the process of instruction just where 
the schools had left it. Religion gave to learning its proper 
polarity. What would New England have been without its 
churches .-' — a plantation without a sun. 

Still another source of strength was the independence 
of towns. Each municipality felt itself to be sovereign 
in the ordering of its own affairs, while it was a recognized 
part of the body politic. A town, like an individual, must 
have the habit of self-government. It cannot be ruled by 
the militia, but only by the combined wisdom of the whole 
population. While a general government is almost wholly 
employed in averting evil, a town possesses the power of 
doing positive good. When our New-England towns levied 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



125 



taxes, opened roads, gathered a militia, founded schools, 
and supported churches, they thereby managed the great 
interests of the Colony, and in one sense became National 
Legislatures. And the people rejoiced in the absence of 
the taxes, tolls, fees, restrictions, and monopolies of Old 
England. Here a man could do what he pleased in lawful 
work and trade, and could do as much as he wished. Here 
he could work at two or ten trades if he was able. This 
was New-England free trade. 

Another cause of prosperity, consequent in some meas- 
ure on the two last noticed, was the small number of laws 
made by the General Court. Society here had not reached 
that complicated state in which powerful political parties, 
fierce sectional jealousies, and conflicting moneyed aristoc- 
racies, so often make legislation interminable, contradic- 
tory, and deceptive. The diamond-cut-diamond system, 
now in such terrible activity among us, was not known to 
our fathers. Their laws were only the republication of 
those few general principles of justice and humanity 
which are easily gathered from the sacred pages. Such 
legislation, while the most simple, was the most effective 
and the least changeable. 

But the chief cause of the social and material progress 
of the Colonies was the industry, economy, and energy of 
the people ; for in spite of the poverty of the soil, and the 
severity of the winter, they soon secured comfort and 
plenty. The noble lines of the poet well describe the 
land and the people : — 

" Man is the nobler growth our realms supply, 
And soids are ripened in our northern sky." 

The causes of prosperity so briefly noticed above are 
introduced, that we may here say that each one of them 
has been brought to bear, in its true relation and natural 
force, upon the town of Medford. With Medford before 
us, we conclude by saying that these elements of growth 
have produced throughout New England a remarkable 
activity of mind and body, a general diffusion of knowl- 
edge, an indomitable perseverance of will, social and civil 
order, self-forgetful patriotism, domestic love, and religious 
enthusiasm. These effects have, in their turn, become 
causes ; and the glorious results are extensive wealth, 
great moral influence, elevated Christian character, and 
solid happiness. 



126 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Town-Officers. — A record of the incumbency of its 
municipal offices is an interesting part of tlie history of 
a town, and is valuable for reference. Lists are here sub- 
joined, giving" the succession in the more important offices, 
commencing with the date from and after which the record 
can be made complete. 

Moderators. 

Benjamin Hall . 1782-85 

Thomas Brooks 1785-86, 1788-89 

Cajjt. Ehenezer Hall 1787, 1791-94, 1801-03 

Willis Hall 1790 

Richard Hall 1795-96 

Ebenezer Hall 1 797-1800 

John Brooks 1803 

Jonathan Porter . 1804, 1806 

Capt. Caleb Brooks 1805, 1807-08 

Capt. Nathan Adams 1808, 1834 

Timothy Bigelovv 1809, 18 14-21 

Fitch Hall 1810-12 

Timothy Getting 1813, 1851 

Luther Stearns 1816-17 

Nathaniel Hall 1822 

Dudley Hall 1823-28, i S3 1-33 

John P. Clisby 1829, 1834-37, 1839 

Galen James 1838 

John Sparrell .... 1840, 1843, 1S45, 1847-56, 1859, 1862, 1864-65 

Alexander Gregg 1841-42, 1844, 1846 

James M. Usher. . 1850-51, 1853, 1857-58, 1860-62, 1864-65, 1883 

James O. Curtis 1850, 1852, i860 

Thomas P. Smith 1853 

Thomas S. Harlow 1856, 1862 

Judah Loring >. 1856 

Elihu C. Baker 1857-64 

Charles Russell 1S66-72, 1874-76 

Benjamin F. Hayes 1867 

Daniel A. Gleason 1868-69 

Benjamin H. Samson 1870 

John H. Hooper 1873-82, 1884 

^ • J- Tay 1875 

Michael F. Dvvyer 1877-78-79-82 

T. P. Dresser 1885 

Collectors of Taxes. 

John T. White. . . . 1843-77 | George W. W. Saville . 1878-85 

Toivji-Clerks. 



Jonathan Wade .... 1674 

Stephen Willis 1675 

John Bradstreet . . . . 1701 

Stephen Willis 1708 



Thomas Tufts 171 8 

William Willis .... 1 719 

Benjamin Willis .... 1721 

William Willis .... 1726 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



127 



Ebenezer Brooks, 
Benjamin Willis 
Thomas Seccomb 
Willis Hall . . 
Richard Hall ._ 
Benjamin Hall, jun 
Andrew Hall . 
Nathaniel Hall . 
Samuel Swan 
Nathaniel Hall . 
Luther Stearns . 



1728 
1730 

1745 
1767 
1770 

1783 
1792 

1794 
1796 
1797 
1803 



Nathaniel Hall . 
Abner Bartlett . 
Jonathan Porter 
Aimer Bartlett . 
William Rogers 
Abner Bartlett . 
William D. Fitch 
Oliver Blake . 
Joseph P. Hall . 
Parker R. Litchtield 



1806 
i8ro 
1819 

1820 
1826 

1827 

1834 
1836 
1846 
1865 



Tozvn- Treasurers. 



Stephen Willis . 
John Bradstreet 
Samuel Wade . 
John Whitmore 
William Willis . 
John Richardson 
Edward Brooks 
Samuel Brooks . 
Stephen Hall 
Edward Brooks 
Benjamin Parker 
Edward Brooks 
Thomas Brooks 
Aaron Hall . . 
Thomas Brooks 
James Wyman . 



1696 
1700 
1709 
1714 

1725 
1727 
1728 
1729 
1733 
1735 
1743 
1750 
1756 
1761 

1763 
1767 



Jonathan Patten 
Richard Hall . 
Jonathan Porter 
Isaac Warren . 
Samuel Buel 
John Bishop 
Joseph P. Hall . 
Joseph Manning 
William Rogers 
Henrv Porter . 
Turell Tufts 
Timothy Cotting 
George W. Porter 
Charles Currier 
George B. Green 
Parker R. Litchtield 



1778 
17S6 
1790 
1793 
1794 
1798 
1804 
1808 
1823 
1825 
1827 
1836 

1837 
1862 
1863 
1876 



Selectinen. — In the following table is found the full list 
of selectmen from 1782 to 1883 inclusive. They served 
during a part of this time as assessors, overseers of the 
poor, and surveyors of highways, 

Benjamin Hall 1782-84 

Joshua Simonds 17S2-84 

John Bishop 1782 

Capt. Ebenezer Hall 1782-93 

Richard Hall 17S2-94 

Willis Hall 1783-89 

Thomas Brooks 1785-88 

Moses Billings 1785 

John Brooks 1786-97, 1803 

James Wyman 1789-96 

Ebenezer Hall, jun 1790-1800 

Benjamin Hall, jun 1794-97 

Peter Tufts 1797-1804 

Nathaniel Hall 1797-1804, 1812-13 

Jonathan Porter 1797-1809 

Capt. Caleb Brooks 1801-07 

Samuel Teel 1804^07 



128 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

Benjamin Tufts 1S05-TO, 1812-17 

Zaccheus Wyman o 1809 

Nathan Wait 1808-11 

Nathan Adams 1808, 1819, 1821-25 

Con vers pmnriQ 1809 

Jonathan Brooks 1810, 1817-18 

Caul Fitch Hall iSio-ii 

Luther Stearns 1810, 1S12-17, 1819-20 

James Gilchrist 1814 

Isaac 15rooks 181 5-1 6 

Thatcher Magoun 1818-21, 1826 

John Symmes 1820 

Jeduthan Richardson 1821-22 

Gilbert Blanchard 1822 

Turell Tufts 1823-25, 1827-28 

Joseph Swan ' 1823-24, 1826 

Dudley Hall 1826-27 

John P. Clisby 1826,1828-29,1835,1837,1839 

Darius Wait 1826 

John HoMe 1827, 1829 

Leonard Buchanan 1828-29 

John B. Fitch 1830 

John Symmes 1830-33 

Timothy Cotting 1830-31, 1833, 1838,1843-44,1849-50 

John King 1831, 1834 

Thomas R. Peck 1832-40 

Jesse Crosby 1832 

John Sparrell 1834-35 

Galen James 1836-38 

James O. Curtis 1836-40, 1851-52 

Lewis Richardson 1839 

Milton James 1840, 1846 

Alexander Gregg 1841-43, 1845-46 

James W. Brooks 1841-42, 1844 

Judah Loring 1841-43 

John Taylor 1844 

William Haskins 1845-46, 1852, 1854 

Horatio A. Smith 1845, 1859-60 

Benjamin Samson 1854-55 

Peter C. Hall 1854, 1857-58 

Nathan Richards 1855 

George W. Wild 1855 

William ^L Cudworth 1858 

Albert H. Butters 1859-61, 1863, 1866-67 

Joseph Roberts 1859 

F. E. Foster i860 

Joshua T. Foster .... 1861-62, 1866-67, 187O) 1873-74, 1880-82 

Eleazer Boynton, jun 1861-62 

Charles S. Jacobs 1862 

William B. Thomas 1863, 1876-78 

Alvah N. Cotton 1863, 186S-69, 1871 

Nathan W. Bridge 1864-65 

Charles Currier 1864-66, 1883-85 

Atwood Littletield, jun 1S64 





€:^C^:i^ 




HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



129 



Henry M. Wild 1864 

Charles Russell 1864-65 

John P. Perry 1864-66, 1868-69, 1871 

F. H. Kidder 1864-66 

Parker R. Litchfield 1865-69,1872-74 

Elbridge Teel 1865 

Joshua Clark 1865 

Henry H. Gilmore 1866 

Godfrey Ryder, jun 1867-69 

Benjamin A. Hersey 1867-69 

Henry Hastings 1S67 

William C. Haskins 1867, 1S69-70 

Caleb Mills 1S6S-69 

Owen N. Abbott 1868-69 

Daniel W. Lawrence 1S70 

James P. Richardson 1870-71 

Silas F. Wild 1871-72 

James Bean 1872-74 

R. P. Hallowell 1872 

George W. Gardner 1872 

Freeman A. Loring 1873 

George H. Sampson 1873 

Elijah S. Waitt 1873-74 

William J. Floyd 1873 

John H. Hooper 1874-82 

C. M.Jones 1874 

Charles M. Barrett 1S74 

C. D. Archibald 1S75-79 

Joseph E. Ober 1875-79 

J. Henrv Norcross 1875 

Danforth Sprague 1877-79 

B. C. Leonard 1879-80 

Charles W. Jacobs . . 1878-80 1 Ira W. Hamlin . . . 1884-85 



John White 1880 Granville G. Redding 



Thomas B. Dill . . . 1881-83 

Frank L. Stetson . . . 1881-82 

Charles H. Parker . . 1881-83 

Thomas A. Eames . . 18S3-85 



Horace D. Hadley 
John W. Bragden, jun. 
Morris W. Child . . 
L. H. Lovering; . . 



1884 
1S84-85 
. 18S5 
. 1886 
. 1886 



Assessors. — Under this head we give the names of those 
who have filled the ofifice of assessor ; although some of 
them acted in that capacity while they were selectmen, as 
already stated. 

Joshua Simonds 1782, 1785-92 

Willis Hall 1782,1784,1786-88,1790-92 

James Wyman 1782 

Moses Billings 1782-84 

Capt. Caleb Brooks 17S2-84, 1789, 1796-1S11 

Isaac Hall 1785, 1788 

John Brooks 1786-91 

Capt. Ebene-zer Hall 1787-88,1796 

Thomas Brooks 1787 

John Bishop, jun 1789 



130 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

Caul Fitch Hall 1789 

Jonathan Porter 1790-92 

Peter Tufts 1790-1802 

Ebenezcr Hall, jun 1801-03,1824-26,1828-29,1832-35 

Samuel Swan '793-95 

Samuel Buel 1 793-1 802 

Capt. Samuel Teel I79--95 

Ephraim Hall 1793-95 

Joseph P. Hall 1803-07 

Capt. Nathaniel Adams 1804-08 

Ephraim Bailey 1808-18 

Zaccheus Wyman 1809 

Joseph Swan 1810-13, 1816 

Jeduthan Richardson 1812-19, 1821-24 

William liradbury . . .• 18 14 

Andrew IJlanchard 181 5 

Abner Bartlett 1817-19, 1827 

Nathan Adams 1819-21, 1826-29, '84' 

Gilbert Blanchard 1821-23 

John Howe 1821-27, 1834 

John P. Clisby 1825-26,1828-29,1833,1835-37 

Nathaniel Hall 1827 

Jonathan Brooks 1827 

John B. Fitch 1827 

Andrew Blanchard 1828-29 

John King 1830-31 

John Sparrel . 1830, 1833-35, i^SSj ^840, 1846, 1849, 1852, 1855-56 

Thomas R. Peck 1832, 1851 

Jesse Crosby 1832 

James W. Brooks 1S37, 1839-40, 1843-45 

John Clough 183S 

John T. Cram 1839, 1841-42 

Oliver Blake 1840 

Horatio A. Smith 1841-50,1854,1856,1872,1878-80 

Oliver M. (iale 1842 

James B. Gregg 1843-46 

Charles Caldwell 1847-48, 1857-61 

Samuel Joyce 1847-50 

Henry Withington 1850-54 

Elbridge Teel 1851, 1853-54, 1865 

George T. Goodwin 1852, 1855 

James O. Curtis 1852, 1872 

Albert H. Butters 1852,1857,1866-67 

Joseph P. Hall 1853, 1862-63 

Jonathan Oldham 1855 

Pyam Cushing 1856 

Samuel S. Blanchard 1858-59 

George L. Barr i860 

Horatio Williams 1861 

Luther Farwell 1861-62 

Henry H. Gilmore 1862, 18C6 

Atwood Litchfield, jun 1863-64 

Joseph James 1863 

George T. Blake 1S64 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



131 



John P. Perry 1864-66, 1868, 1871 

Charles Currier 1864-66 

Frankh'n Patch 1864 

Joseph L. Goldthwait 1864 

Henry M. Wild 1S64 

Charles Russell 1S65 

Nathan W. Bridge 1865 

Parker R. Litchfield 1S65-74 

Joshua Clark 1865 

J. T. Foster 1866-67, 1872-74 

Godfrey Ryder, jun 1867-68 

William C. Haskins 1857 

Benjamin A. Hersey 1867-68 

Henry Hastings 1867 

Caleb Mills 1868 

Alvah N. Cotton 1868,1870-71,1879 

Owen W. Abbott 1868 

Daniel W. Lawrence 1S69 

John Brown 1869-70, 1875-78 

R. P. Hallowell 1S72 

Silas F. Wild 1872 

James Bean 1872-74 

George W. Gardner 1872 

Freeman A. Loring 1873 

George H. Sampson 1873 

Elijah S. Wait 1873-74 

William J. Floyd 1873 

John H. Hooper 1874-82, 1884-85 

Charles N. Jones 1874 

Charles AL Barrett 1874 

Joseph Roberts 1875 

Joseph E. Ober 1S78-79, 1881-85 

William C. Sprague 1880-83, 1885 

James P. Richardson 1880 

Danford Sprague . . . 1881-82 1 George W. Stetson . . . 1885 
James S. Sturtevant. . . 1884 1 Ira W. Hamlin .... 18S6 



Representatives of Medford in the General Court. 



Peter Tufts . 
Peter Tufts . 
Nathaniel Wade 
Peter Tufts . 
Thomas Willis 
Ebenezer Brooks 
Thomas Willis 
Stephen Willis 
Thomas Tufts 
Peter Tufts . 
Thomas Tufts 
John Bradshaw 
Samuel Brooks 
John Allford 
Benjamin Willis 
William Willis . 



16S9 
1690 
1692 
1694 
1703 
1704 
1705 
1 70S 
[714 

1715 

1 718 
1722 

1723 
1726 

1730 
«735 



John Hall 

William Willis 

Andrew Hall 

Stephen Hall 

Samuel Brooks 

Stephen Hall 

Benjamin Hall 

Simon Tufts 

Benjamin Hall 

Thomas Brooks .... 
T. Brooks (under the Consti- 
tution) 

Thomas Brooks .... 

Aaron Hall 

John Brooks 

James Wyman 



1 741 
1742 
1744 
1 75 1 

1762 
1763 
1770 

1772 

1775 
1776 

17S0 
1781 
1782 
1785 
1787 



132 



HISTORY OF iM ED FORD. 



Thomas Brooks 
Ehenezer Hall . . 
Nathaniel Hall . . 
Timotliv Biselow . 
Diulley'Hal'l. . . 
Abncr Bartlett . . 
Turell Tul'ts . . 
Tliatclier Magoun . 
Joliii B. Fitch . . 
John Sparrell . . 
Tliomas R. Peck . 
Frederick A. Kendall 
Timotiiy Cotting . 
John King . . . 
James O. Curtis 
George W. Porter 
Lewis Richardson . 
Leonard Bucknam 
Alexander Gregg . 
Thatcher R. Raymond 
Gorham Brooks 
Joseph P. Hall . . 
Thatcher R. Raymond 
Joseph P. Hall ' . . 



7SS 
7S9 
800 
808 

813 
8.5 

824 
825 
826 
831 
833 
834 
834 
835 
836 

837 
838 
838 
840 

843 
846 
847 
850 
851 



James M. Usher , 
Joseph P. Hall . 
Jonathan Oldham 
John Sparrell . , 
Elihu C. Baker . 
Oliver Holman 
Elisha Hayden 
William M. Cudworth 
F^rancis Brooks 
John Stetson . . 
E. Boynton, jun. . 
Benjamin H. Davis 
James A. Hervey . 
John S. Cotton 
Benjamin F. Hayes 
Daniel W. Lawrence 
Baxter E. Perry . 
John H. Hooper . 
Daniel W. Lawrence 
John C. Rand . . 
John C. Rand . . 
Joshua T. Foster . 
Joshua T. Foster . 
John H. Hooper . 



Coiuicillors. 



John Brooks . . 
Peter C. Brooks . 
Timothy Bigelow 



1852 

1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
i860 
1861 
1863 
1864 
1866 
1869 
1872 
1873 
1875 
1876 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 



1812 
1818 
1820 



Senators. 



James M. L'^sher 1851 

Sanford B. Perry 1852 

E. C. Baker 1855 

James M. Usher 1857-58 

B. F. Hayes 1878-79 

Eleazer Boynton 1885-86 

Gov. Brooks. — The career and character of this distin- 
guished son of Medford are well set forth in an address 
delivered by Dr. John Dixvvell before the Massachusetts 
Medical Society : — 

"John Brooks was born in Medford, Mass., in May, 1752. His 
father, Capt. Caleb Brooks, \vas a respectable farmer, much esteemed 
and beloved by his friends and neigiilDors. His mother was a woman 
of sui)erior personal charms and of remarkable talents, for one of 
her advantages and station in life. She early discovered in her son 
those faculties ^vhicl1 were destined to raise him from the plough to 
tlie first station in society, and was solicitous to place him where he 
miglit cultivate them to advantage. We are probably mucli indebted 
to this excellent woman for the estimable traits of character displayed 





'/^-^T^^/Ly 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



133 



in the son. Our matrons give the first and most important impress 
of our moralists, our statesmen, and our heroes. Happv is the lot of 
those who have mothers of that superior excellence which rises above 
the vain show and glitter of life, whose pleasures centre in the care 
of their offspring, in forming their habits, and directing their minds to 
elevated sentiments and noble objects, whose greatest pride is in those 
splendid ornaments, — the virtues displayed by their children. 

" Mrs. Brooks had an excellent friend in her physician. Dr. Simon 
Tufts, at that time a very respectable practitioner in Medford. His 
high standing in our profession is evinced by his being enrolled in 
the list of our members previously to the present organization of the 
society, when its number was limited to seventy, and none were 
elected fellows but those who were the most distinguished practitioners 
in the State. Dr. Tufts observed the anxiety of the mother to elevate 
her son to a superior station in life, and encouraged her to give him 
as good an education as their finances would permit. He was accord- 
ingly placed at the town-school, where he was taught the rudiments of 
science, and the Latin and Greek languages. Such was his proficiency 
in his scholastic studies, and so amialile and exemplary was his char- 
acter, that he secured the friendship of Dr. Tufts, who took him into 
his family at the age of fourteen, to educate him for his profession. 
The skill and science of the instructor, and the indefatigable attention 
of the pupil, supplied the deficiencies arising from the want of a liberal 
education. His progress in medical science and in judicious practical 
observation was such as to secure the confidence and respect of his 
master. 

" During his pupilage, the amiable traits of his character were more 
fullv developed ; and he began to display that talent and fondness for 
military discipline which were eminently manifested at a subsequent 
period, and contributed to establish that erect and manly port for 
which he was so remarkably distinguished. In the hours of relaxation 
from study, he amused himself with the drill and exercise of the soldier. 
His manners were so gentle and attractive that he was the delight of 
all the village boys. They collected about him as the chief source 
of their pleasures and amusements : he formed them into a company, 
and trained and exercised them in all the duties of military discipline. 
Dr. Tufts's yard was often converted into a train-field, and displaved 
in miniature all 'the pomp and circumstance of glorious war.' These 
juvenile scenes are still recurred to with ])leasure, by those who were 
engaged in them, as the happiest moments of their lives. 

" He continued, until he was twenty-one years old, under the tuition 
of Dr. Tufts, who then advised him to commence the practice of physic 
in the town of Reading, and gave him a high recommendation to the 
people, as well qualified for the important trust, and worthy of their 
fullest confidence. He accordingly settled there, and was soon after 
married, and his prospects were fair for a very respectable establish- 
ment in his profession ; but he was destined to act a more conspicuous 
part in the great drama of life. 

"The storm which had been a long time gathering in our political 
horizon began now to assume a most portentous aspect, ready to burst 
over the country with destructive fury. The stout hearts and steady 
minds of our countrymen had been preparing for the shock, resolved 
to defend themselves against its tremendous power. The busy hum 
of warlike preparation was heard through the country. Companies 



134 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

were formed in almost every town, who held themselves in readiness 
to marcli at a minute's warning. One of these companies was raised 
in Reading, and Brooks was elected to command it. He gave all the 
attention he could to this company, consistently with his professional 
duties, and was active in his exertions to drill his men, and infuse into 
them that heroic spirit and ardent patriotism which animated his own 
breast. 

•' He was, however, much perplexed to determine what course he 
ought to pursue in this momentous crisis. He had a strong attachment 
to liis ])r()fession, and was deeply impressed with the moral obligations 
he was under to discliarge the duties of it with fidelity. The kindly 
affections of his heart and the amenity of his manners qualified him to 
administer relief with peculiar acceptance, and gave the fullest promise 
of a skilful and popular physician. He had just entered into practice 
with flattering prospects, and with all the ardor of a youthful mind. 
He had already many patients at^icted with severe disease. Judge, 
then, with what reluctance he listened to the calls of patriotism, urging 
him to relinquish these prospects and duties, to engage in a contest 
fraught with the most appalling dangers to himself and to his country. 
On the other hand, he had displayed such talents as a military disci- 
plinarian, and was so esteemed and beloved by those who were under 
his command, and by all who were connected with him in military duty, 
that he was thought the most competent to take the lead in their affairs. 
In the organization of a regiment, he was elected a major. This honor 
he declined, from an apprehension that it might call him too much 
from professional duties, and involve him too far in the military and 
political movements of the times; so that he would finally be under 
the necessity of relinquishing his profession, — an event which he was 
anxiously desirous to avoid. His fellow-otticers would not accept his 
resignation, and unanimously repeated their solicitations that he would 
assume the duties of an office which he was so well qualified to sustain. 
This flattering distinction was enough to shake his resolution. He 
a^ain took the subject into serious consideration, and the same objec- 
tions presented themselves to his mind. He then determined to meet 
his brother-officers, and absolutely decline the honors they were dis- 
posed to thrust upon him. 

" He was thus situated on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, when 
the news arrived that a detachment of the British army had marched 
to Lexington and Concord. His ardent patriotism then rose superior 
to all other considerations. His high-minded spirit could not shrink 
from the duties which devolved upon him as a militarv commander. 
He ordered out his company with jiromptness, and directed them to 
proceed on the route to Concord; and, having made such provision 
lor the medical relief of the sick under his care as the time would 
permit, he joined his gallant corps with all possible speed. Having 
arrived in the vicinity of Concord, he met the liritish on their retreat, 
with the cool and determined bravery of a veteran, and made such a 
disposition of his men as to secure them from injury, and enable them 
to annoy the enemy with destructive volleys as they passed a narrow 
defile. He then hung on their rear and flanks, in conjunction with 
other troops, until they arrived at Charlestown. The military talents 
and calm courage which he displayed on this occasion were remarka- 
ble in a young man only twenty-three years of age. who had never 
seen a battle. It was noticed by those who had the direction of public 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 3 5:; 

affairs, and lie soon after received the commission of a major in the- 
Continental army. 

" He now entered on the duties of a soldier with ardor, and devoted 
all the powers of his mind to the cause of his country and the profes- 
sion of arms. He carried into the service a mind pure and elevated, 
and ardent in the pursuit of knowledge. He had a high sense of 
moral rectitude, which governed all his actions. Licentiousness and 
debauchery were strangers to his breast: they fled from his presence, 
awed bv his superior virtue. His gentlemanly deportment and unas- 
suming manners secured the favor of his superiors in office, and 
rendered him the delight of his equals and inferiors. The follow- 
ing description of Agricola, by Tacitus, his inimitable biographer, is. 
peculiarly applicable to Brooks : — 

" ' Nee Agricola licenter, more juvenum, qui militiam in lasciviam 
vertunt, neque segniter, ad voluptates et commeatus, titulum tribunatus 
et inscitiam retulit: sed noscere provinciam, nosci exercitui, discere a 
peritis, sequi optimos, nihil appetere jactatione, nihil ob formidinem 
recusare, simulque et anxius et intentus agere.' 

"Although he sought no enterprise through vain-glory, his active 
zeal and high ambition led him to solicit the post of danger if he 
could thereby render useful service to his country. 

" When Gen. Ward had determined to fortify the heights of Charles- 
town, and arrangements were made for this purpose, finding that he 
was not included in the detachment, he solicited the general to permit 
him to accompany it; and his request was granted. He was active 
during the whole night of the i6th of June in throwing up intrench- 
ments, in reconnoitring the ground, and in watching the movements 
of the enemv. On the morning of the 17th, when it was perceived 
that the enemv were making preparations for an assault, he was de- 
spatched by Col. Prescott, as a confidential officer, to inform Gen. 
Ward of the movements, and to represent to him the importance of his 
sending re-enforcements. No horse could be had, and he was obliged 
to walk. This duty prevented his being in that glorious battle which 
has immortalized the heroes who were engaged in it, and consecrated 
the ground to everlasting fame. 

" Amidst the exultant feelings which this dear-bought victory of the 
enemy inspired, our infant armv did not fail to profit by the experience 
they had gained. The advantages of superior discipline in the enemy 
were apparent to everyone. The}- made a strong impression on the 
minds of our officers, and especially on that of our youthful hero. He 
had already acquired such a knowledge of tactics, that he had been 
consulted by superior officers on a system of discipline to be introduced 
into our army. He now applied himself with renewed diligence to this 
important part of his duty, and he soon acquired a high reputation as. 
a disciplinarian. The corps he commanded were distinguished during 
the whole war for the superiority of their discipline, evinced by their 
gallant conduct in battle and by their regular movements in retreat. 
He was second only to the celebrated Baron Steuben in his knowledge 
of tactics. After this officer joined the army, and was appointed 
inspector-general, we find that IBrooks was associated with him in the 
arduous duty of introducing a uniform system of exercise and manoeu- 
vres into the army. 

" He assisted in fortifying the Heights of Dorchester, which com- 
pelled the British to evacuate Boston. He was very efficient in the 



136 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

:successful retreat from Long Island. He acted a distinguished part 
in the battle of White Plains; and, when the detachment of our army 
was overpowered by numbers, his regiment, of which he was the most 

■efficient officer, so ably covered the retreat, that it received the distin- 
guished acknowledgments of Gen. Washington for its gallant conduct. 
" In the year 1777 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel 

vinthe Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, the command of which devolved 

■ on him in consequence of the sickness of his colonel. In the spring 
of this year he was ordered to join the northern army, and he took an 
active part in tliose movements and battles which terminated in the 
surrender of Gen. Burgovne. In short, the capture of that army may 
be attributed in no small degree to his gallant conduct on the 7th of 
October, in the battle of Saratoga. It is well known how ably he 
turned the right of the enemy; with what fearless intrepidity he led 

'On his regiment to storm their intrenchments, entering them at the 
head of his men, with sword in hand, and putting to rout the veteran 
German troops which defended them : and with what tirmness he 
maintained this post which he had so gallantlv gained, notwithstanding 
the utmost efforts to dislodge him. This action compelled the enemy 
to change his position, and the field was then open for Gen. Gates to 
surround and capture his whole army. 

" On the surrender of Burgoyne, Col. Brooks was ordered to join 
the army under Gen. Washington, and soon after went into winter- 
quarters at Valley Forge, and, in common with the army, suffered all 
those privations and hardships which required more heroism to endure 
than the most severe and bloody battles. How great are our obliga- 
tions to those wonderful patriots whom neither nakedness nor disease, 
nor famine nor the sword, could dishearten! 

" To follow our hero through all his valuable and laborious military 
services would be to give a minute history of our Revolutionary war, 
for there was scarcely any important services performed in the northern 
and central operations of the army in which he did not act a conspicu- 
ous part. To describe these is the province of the historian. We 
allude only to those remarkable events which serve to illustrate his 
character. 

"At the conclusion of the war, our army had a still more severe 
ordeal to pass through than the battles and privations they had en- 
dured. It remained for them to subdue their own passions and resent- 
ments, and to make this last and most noble sacrifice for the welfare of 
their country. The pay of the army w-as greatly in arrear; and most 
of the officers had spent in their country's service all they had owned, 
and all they could borrow. Congress had no adequate funds for their 
payment, and it was deficient in the power of creating them. In 
this deplorable state of things, inflammatory anonvmous letters were 
circulated through the army, founded on the most plausible reasons, 
exciting them to retain their arms, and to take by force what was due 
to them in right. The apparent justice of this measure concealed 
from the unreflecting the horrible consequences which must have 
ensued from it. Fortunately for our country, there were many in- 
fluential officers in the army, of that purity of heart, that soundness 
of judgment and elevated patriotism, which led them to view with 
abhorrence this fatal expedient; and it is highlv honorable to Col. 
Brooks that he was among the first who opposed it. He had taken 
measures to this effect in his own regiment before the opinions of 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 37 

Washington were known, and he had the satisfaction of finding that 
his sentiments were in perfect accordance with those of the Father 
of his country. He was honored with his most grateful acknowledg- 
ments and full contidence. His brother-officers were so strongly im- 
pressed with his wisdom and prudence, that he was appointed one of 
the committee which tinally made an adjustment with Congress, and 
allayed that dreadful excitement. By the influence of these mag- 
nanimous patriots, the army gave this distinguished proof of their 
devotion to the liberties of their country; and, in the language of 
Washington, we may say, 'Had this day been wanting, the world had 
never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capa- 
ble of attaining.' 

"After the army was disbanded, Col. Brooks returned to private life, 
rich in the laurels he had won, in the affections of his fellow-soldiers, 
and in the esteem of the wise and good. He was not only free from 
the vices incident to a military life, but, what was remarkable, he had 
acquired more elevated sentiments of morality and religion. He was 
received in his native town with all the kindness, the congratulations 
and attentions, which love and friendship could elicit, or respect inspire. 
He was rich in honor and glory, but he had nothing to meet the claims 
of his beloved family but the caresses of an affectionate heart. 

" His old friend Dr. Tufts, being infirm, and advanced in life, was 
desirous of relinquishing his practice into the hands of his favorite 
pupil, whom he thought so worthy of confidence. His fellow-townsmen 
responded to the wishes of his patron. He accordingly recommenced 
the practice of physic, under the most favorable auspices, in Medford 
and the neighboring towns. He was soon after elected a fellow of this 
society, and was one of its most valuable and respected members. On 
the extension and new organization of the societ\', in the year 1803, he 
was elected a counsellor, and continued to discharge the duties of this 
office with fidelity until he was governor of the Commonwealth. He 
was then discontinued, at his own request. In the year i8o8, by the 
appointment of the board of counsellors, he delivered an anniversary 
discourse on ' Pneumonia,' which has been published, and evinces a 
mind well stored with medical science and correct practical observa- 
tion. 

" On his retiring from the chair of state, he was again chosen 
counsellor, with a view of electing him president of our society. It is 
unnecessary for me to expatiate on the pride and satisfaction we 
derived from his accepting this honor. Your own feelings will best 
convey to you the height of the honor which he reflected on our soci- 
ety. That he felt a deep interest in our prosperity, we have ample 
evidence in his so kindly remembering us in his will. 

" As a physician, he ranked in the first class of practitioners. He 
possessed in an eminent degree those qualities which were calculated 
to render him the most useful in his professional labors, and the 
delight of those to whom he administered relief. His manners were 
dignified, courteous, and benign. He was sympathetic, patient, and 
attentive. His kind offices were peculiarly acceptable, from the felici- 
tous manner in which he performed them. His mind was well fur- 
nished with scientific and practical knowledge. He was accurate in 
his investigations, and clear in his discernment. He therefore rarely 
failed in forming a true diagnosis. If he were not so bold and daring 
as some in the administration of remedies, it was because his judg- 



138 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

ment and good sense led him to prefer erring on the side of prudence 
rather than on that of rashness. He watched the operations of Nature, 
and never interfered unless it was obvious he could aid and support 
her. He was truly the ' Hierophant of Nature,' studying her mysteries 
and obeying her oracles. 

" In his practice he added dignity to his profession by his elevated 
and upright conduct. His lofty spirit could not stoop to the empirical 
arts which are too often adopted to obtain a temporary ascendency. 
He soared above the sordid consideration of the property he should 
accumulate by his professional labors. Like the good and great Boer- 
haave, he considered the poor his best patients ; for God was their 
pavmaster. In short, he was the conscientious, the skilful, and benevo- 



it pnv.' 
"His 



mind, however, was not so exclusively devoted to his profes- 
sional duties as to prevent his taking a deep interest in the affairs of 
state. He had contributed so largely towards establishing the inde- 
pendence of his country, and had exhibited such sincere devotion 
to its welfare, that his countrymen, who have ever been distinguished 
for the acuteness of their discernment in judging of public men and 
measures, were alwavs ready to display their confidence in him. They 
felt an assurance that they might safely repose on his conscientious 
integrity, wisdom, and patriotism. He was consequently called to fill 
numerous offices of high importance in the State. 

"He was for many years major-general of the militia of his county, 
and established in his division such excellent discipline, and infused 
into it such an admirable spirit of emulation, that it was a most bril- 
liant example for the militia of the State. At this time Gen. Brooks 
represented his town in General Court, and he gave support to the firm 
and judicious measures of Gov. Bowdoi'n for suppressing that alarm- 
ing rebellion. He was a delegate in the State Convention for the 
adoption of the Federal Constitution, and was one of its most zealous 
advocates. After the establishment of the Federal Government, he 
was the second marshal appointed by Washington for this district, and 
afterwards received further evidence of his confidence and approba- 
tion by being appointed inspector of the revenue. He was succes- 
sively elected to the Senate and Executive Council of the State. He 
was appointed bv the acute and discriminating Gov. Strong as his 
adjutant-general m that perilous crisis of our affairs, the late war with 
England. The prudence and discretion with which he discharged this 
arduous duty will be long remembered by his grateful countrymen. 

" These multifarious and laborious public services were performed 
with so much punctuality and ability, and with such dignity and 
urbanitv, that, on the retirement of Gov. Strong from the chair of 
state, wise and discreet legislators from all parts of the Commonwealth 
selected him as the most suitable candidate for that high and respon- 
sible office. It will be recollected how forcibly every judicious mind 
was impressed with the excellence of the selection, and how strongly 
the public suffrages confirmed that opinion. His very name seemed 
to disarm party-spirit with talismanic power ; for many who had never 
ticted with his political friends prided themselves in testifying their 
unlimited confidence in him. 

" It is well remembered, by those associated with him at that time, 
with what trembling apprehensions he shrunk from the lofty attitude 
of the chair of state, and yet, when placed there, with what singular 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 1 39 

ease and diiinity he presided, and with what signal ability he discharq-cd 
its various important duties. His government was firm and decided, 
yet it was so mild and gentle that its influence was chiefly perceptible 
in his happy facility of allaying party-spirit and all the angry passions 
of our nature. It was like that of a beloved and revered parent, whom 
all are disposed to honor and obey. 

" Amidst these high military and political honors which his fellow- 
citizens took delight in bestowing on him, almost every institution 
of a literary, religious, patriotic, benevolent, or professional character, 
seemed to vie with each other in conferring their highest honors on him. 
In 1781 Yale College conferred on him the honorary degree of A.M. 
Harvard University acknowledged the value of his literary acquire- 
ments by conferring on him the degree of A.M. in the year 1787, and 
in 1810 the degree of M.D., and in 1817 the highest honor of that 
seminary, — the degree of LL.D. 

" The Society of Cincinnati recognized him as one of their most 
distinguished members. He was elected to deliver the first oration 
before them, on the 4th of July, 1787; and on the death of Gen. 
Lincoln, their first president. Gen. Brooks was elected to succeed him. 

" He was a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. He 
was president of the Washington Monument Association, of the 
Bunker-hill Monument Association, and of the Bible Society of Mas- 
sachusetts. 

" Having faithfully and ably discharged the duties of chief magis- 
trate for seven successive years, he expressed his determination to 
retire from the cares and anxieties of public life. How great were 
the public regrei;s, and how gladlv would a large majority of his fel- 
low-citizens have retained his valuable services ! But they forbore 
urging him to any further sacrifices for the good of his country. He 
retired to private life with dignit\- and with the love and blessings of 
a grateful people. 

" Having imperfectly traced the brilliant path of his public career, 
let us for a moment contemplate Gov. Brooks in his private character, 
and perhaps we may discover the true source of all his greatness, the 
charm which bound the hearts of his countrymen to him in ties so 
strong. He possessed a heart free from all guile and every inordinate 
selfish feeling, an ev'enness of temper and sweetness of disposition. 
His discordant passions — for we presume he had them, being hu- 
man — were kept in complete subjection to his virtues. He had a 
peculiar composure and complacency of countenance ; and the deli- 
cacy and courteousness of his manners were uncommonly attractive. 
But, above all, his conduct was regulated bv the influence of that pure 
morality derived from our holy religion, which was impressed deeply 
on his mind at an early period of life. 

"To those who contemplate his fearless intrepidity in the field of 
battle, or have observed the ease and dignity of his deportment on the 
military parade or in the chair of state, it may appear incredible that 
this brave man possessed an uncommon share of diffidence ; but, to 
those who have approached him nearly, it is well known that this was 
a predominant trait in his character. This quality, so rare in little 
minds, is seldom wanting in great ones ; but it is scarcely ever so para- 
mount as it was in our departed friend. It was absolutely necessary 
to make use of some. degree of finesse to induce him to accept any 
important office. This great reluctance in assuming responsibility 



140 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

sometimes arises from inactivity or a love of ease : not so in him we 
would commemorate ; for, whatever might be his situation, he never 
was idle. 

" The mind of Gov. Brooks was clear in its perceptions, and dis- 
criminating in its judgment : it was active, ardent, and industrious in 
the pursuit of every valuable attainment, and powerful in the applica- 
tion of those attainments for the benefit of others. Although his 
mind shrunk from observation with the delicate excitability of the 
sensitive-plant, it was like the oak in sustaining the pressure of every 
duty to his friends or his country. 

" In his relation to his native town, he completely reversed the 
maxim, that a prophet has no honor in his own country : for the in- 
habitants of Medford idolized him. They knew his worth, and fully 
, appreciated it. He was truly their friend and benefactor. He took so 
sj deep an interest in all their concerns, let their station in life be ever so 
humble, that they could always approach him with ease and confidence. 
They referred to him all their disputes ; and so judicious were his de- 
cisions, that he had the rare felicity to satisfy all parties, and to recon- 
cile them to bonds of amity. It was observed by an eminent lawyer 
who resided there, that he had no professional business in Medford ; 
for Gov. Brooks prevented all contentions in the law. In addition to 
these intrinsic services, he was the grace and the ornament of their 
social circles, and seemed to fill the measure of their enjoyments." 

There are a few illustrative facts known to the contem- 
poraries of Gov. Brooks which may be added to Dr. Dix- 
well's biographical notice. 

He had a real love of pithy anecdotes, and delighted to 
tell them ; and, though he was somewhat slow in cracking 
the shell, the kernel was always found to be sweet. He 
never voluntarily made his successes in the sick-chamber, 
or battle-field, or cabinet, a topic of conversation. He 
was remarkably fond of society, and loved to see the old 
and young together. In the street, he never passed any 
acquaintance without a friendly recognition. 

He delighted in cultivating fruit ; but, as many of his 
horticultural experiments were suggested by books, he 
often found them of small pecuniary profit. In the army, 
he played chess with his friend Kosciusko, and occasion- 
ally in Medford enjoyed a social game. 

His services on the 19th of April were of great value. 
Rev. Mr. Foster says, — 

"On the morning of the 19th of April, just at sunrise, alarm-guns 
were fired. The regulars had gone to Concord. I ran directly to 
Major Brooks, and asked if he were going to Concord, and when. 
' Immediately,' was the answer." 

With his minute-men he pursued the enemy to their 
boats at Charlestown. Dr. Ripley says, — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. I41 

" As the enemy passed the road from Bedford, they met a body of 
minute-men, commanded by Major John Brooks. A little below Bed- 
ford Road there was a sharp action, and several of the British were 

killed." 

Rev. Mr. Foster again says, — 

"The enemy faced about suddenly, and fired a volley of musketry 
upon us. They overshot. The fire was immediately returned, and 
two British soldiers fell dead in the road near the brook." 

Col. Phinney says, — 

" A little to the eastward of the village they received a heavy fire 
from the Reading minute-men, under Capt. John Brooks." 

An instance of his zeal, and promptitude of action, was 
seen in his volunteering to march for the relief of Fort (^ 
Stanwix (now Rome), at the head of the Mohawk. 

"It was besieged August, 1777, by one thousand seven hundred 
British and Indians, under Col. St. Leger. Gen. Herkimer, advancing 
to its aid, had been killed, and his troops dispersed. At a council of 
officers, it was objected to weaken the main army at Saratoga by send- 
ing away any of the regular troops. Gen. Schuyler, much depressed 
and excited, said he would 'beat up for volunteers the ne.xt day, if he 
could get men by no other means,' and asked for a brigadier to com- 
mand them. The next day the drum beat for volunteers, and Lieut.- 
Col. Brooks volunteered with his regiment." 

He considered his efforts at Saratoga as the most effec- 
tive in his military career. No skill or bravery during the 
war exceeded his on that occasion. One historian says, — 

" On the left of Arnold's detachment, Jackson's regiment of Massa- 
chusetts, then led by Lieut.-Col. Brooks, was still more successful. It 
turned the right of the encampment, and carried by storm the works 
occupied by the German reserve. Lieut. Brayman was killed: and 
Brooks maintained the ground he had gained. This advantage of the 
Americans was decisive." 

The same author, an eye-witness, further says, — 

" The confidence which Washington reposed in him was shown on 
many occasions, and particularly in calling him to his councils in that 
terrible moment, when at Newburg. in March, 1783, a conspiracy of 
some of the officers, excited by the publication of infiammatory anony- 
mous letters, had well-nigh disgraced the army, and ruined the coun- 
try. On this occasion, the commander-in-chief, to whom this day was 
the most anxious of his life, rode up to Col. Brooks with intent to 
ascertain how the officers stood affected. Finding him, as he expected, 
to be sound, he requested him to keep his officers within quarter, to 
prevent them from attending the insurgent meeting. Brooks replied, 
' Sir, I have anticipated your wishes, and my orders are given.' Wash- 



142 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

ington, with tears in his eyes, took him by the hand, and said, ' Co; 
Brooks, this is just what I expected from vou.' " 

He was a constant and devout church attendant. Th 
uniformity of his example in this matter had a powerfi 
influence on the people of Medford. He was never al 
sent, morning or afternoon, when he could be present 
and his attention to the preacher was profound. He ofte 
made an abstract of the sermon. His favorite mon 
writer was Paley, and he used to speak of his " Horae Paul 
nae" as an "unanswerable book." When the controvers 
between the Calvanists and Unitarians arose, in 1820, h 
took side with the latter, but never liked the extremes c 
either sect. For many years he had wished to make 
public profession of his faith in Christianity, but had bee 
deterred by the minister's custom of calling upon eac 
candidate to express belief in certain doctrines, some c 
which doctrines he did not believe. In 181 7 he had com 
to the conclusion that he would announce to Dr. Osgoo 
his convictions, and request him to suppress the objectior 
able sentence, and thus admit him. The sentence wa 
this : " Sensible of the depravity of the human heart, you 
own proneness to sin, and inability to that which is gooc 
you promise," etc. He did not believe in man's inabilii 
to do that which is good, and therefore he wished this omi' 
ted. Dr. Osgood knew so well his force of mind, an 
purity of life, that he yielded to his wishes ; and on th 
22d of March, 181 8, he declared in public his belief i 
the divine origin of Christianity, and took his seat at th 
table of the Lord. 

He was a delegate to the State Convention of I\Iass£ 
chusetts for the adoption of the Federal Constitution, i 
1787, and was a very influential member of that bod} 
During an earnest and long discussion in regard to bier 
nial elections, he spoke with great clearness and force, an 
said that " no instance had been cited to show that bier 
nial elections had proved destructive to the liberties of th 
people;" that the Parliaments of Great Britain had bee 
triennial and septennial, "yet life, liberty, and propert) 
it was generally conceded, were nowhere better secure- 
than in Great Britain." 

Two important events marked his administration a 
Governor of Massachusetts : first, the separation of th 
District of Maine, in 1820, when it came into line as 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 143 

distinct and independent State ; and, second, the revision 
of the Constitution of the State by the convention which 
met in November of the same year. 

His printed compositions were few. The first public 
oration delivered by him was printed with this title, " An 
Oration delivered to the Society of the Cincinnati, in the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts : July 4, 1787. By John 
Brooks, Esq." 

When President Monroe visited Boston, in 1817, he said 
he had " read the inaugural speech of Gov. Brooks with 
entire approbation ; " and then added, " I am willing to 
take the principles of that speech as the basis of my 
administration." 

The closing sickness of the patriot was neither long nor 
full of pain. He bore it with calm acquiescence, and spoke 
of it with gratitude, as affording him an opportunity for 
reviewing his career, and for striking the balance in life's 
great ledger. He said to his cousin, " My case is beyond 
physicians. I have received my orders : I am ready to 
march." The lamp of religion was within him trimmed 
and burning, and he believed that his life was hid wnth 
Christ in God. Never has there died among us a man 
so widely known, so highly honored, so truly beloved, or so 
deeply lamentea. 

The granite pyramid which stands in the old burying- 
ground has the following inscription • — 

" Sacred to the memory of John Brooks, who was born in Medford, 
in the month of May, 1752, and educated at the town school. He took 
up arms for his country on the 19th of April, 1775. He commanded 
the regiment wiiich first entered the enemies' lines at Saratoga, and 
served with honor to the end of the war. He was appointed Marshal 
of the District of Massachusetts by President Washington ; and, after 
filling several important civil and military offices, he was, in the year 
18 1 6, chosen Governor of the Commonwealth, and discharged the 
duties of that station for seven successive jears to general acceptance. 
He was a kind and skilful physician; a brave and prudent officer; a 
wise, firm, and impartial magistrate ; a true patriot, a good citizen, and 
a faithful friend. In his manners he was a gentleman ; in morals, 
pure ; and in profession and practice, a consistent Christian. He de- 
parted tliis life in peace, on the ist of March, 1825, aged seventy-three. 
This monument to his honored memory was erected by several of his 
fellow-citizens and friends, in the year 1838." 

Col. Isaac Royal. — As one of the wealthiest citizens 
of Medford was frightened into Toryism in 1775, it may 
be fit to give a short notice of the facts, especially as they 



144 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

illustrate, by contrast, the deep devotion of the rest of our 
people to the cause of independence. Abundant evidence 
exists, that Medford took an early and decisive stand 
against the oppressions of the Crown, and, when called 
upon, paid taxes, raised soldiers, and shed blood, in defence 
of American liberty. 

Strong and steady opposers of independence there cer- 
tainly were in the Colonies ; and it therefore required 
superior wisdom and courage to meet such domestic foes. 
The patriots were baptized by the royal government with 
the name of " Rebels," and their doings called " The Fac- 
tion." A trial-question was brought before the Whigs and 
Tories in a town-meeting held at Boston in June, when a 
Tory moved to censure, and then annihilate, the " Com- 
mittee of Correspondence." The Tory speaker said of the 
Committee, — 

" It is the foulest, subtlest, and most venomous serpent that ever 
issued from the eggs of sedition. It is the source of the rebellion. 
I saw the small seed when it was implanted : it was as a grain of 
mustard. I have watched the plant until it has become a great tree ; 
the vilest reptiles that crawl upon the earth are concealed at the root ; 
the foulest birds of the air rest upon its branches. I now would in- 
duce you to go to work immediately, with axes and hatchets, and cut it 
down, for a twofold reason, — because it is a pest to society, and lest 
it be felled suddenly by a stronger arm, and crush its thousands in the 
fall." 

This called forth Samuel Adams, the author and right 
arm of the Committee ; and with his upright intent, his 
manly voice, his profound good sense, his irresistible logic, 
and his New-England heart, he crushed the specious decla- 
mation of the Tory orator. From Faneuil Hall the crowd 
went to the Old South Church ; and, so far from being 
censured, the Committee was thanked, and told to go for- 
ward, whatever the consequences. The weaklings of royal- 
ty quailed before truth and right, but they did not stop 
their vituperative tongues. There were no opprobrious 
epithets in the language which they did not freely bestow 
on the patriot cause. One said, " The annals of the world 
have not been deformed with a single instance of so un- 
natural, so causeless, so wanton, so wicked, a rebellion." 
The patriot leaders were called " calves, knaves, and fools," 
"self-interested and profligate men," " the Boston saints." 
"The merchants form a part of those seditious herds of 
fools and knaves ; " and " the generality of young Bos- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 45 

tonians arc bred up hypocrites in religion, and pettifoggers; 
in law : " such were the words and arguments of the Tories, 
against the cause of their country. , No wonder that suchi 
abuse should stir the blood of James Otis and John Adams.. 
The great question was now fairly brought before the 
country and the world ; and there was left but one course 
for patriotism to pursue, which was to fight for liberty 
and independence. Our fathers met the issue, and the 
great results are now shaking Europe to its very centre. 

It is not necessary to say more here to introduce the 
topic under remark. 

Medford had a very small number of Tories, but they 
should have historical notice at our hands. Curwen. 
says, — 

"Of nearly two hundred exiled Royalists who were banished by 
the government of Massachusetts, more than sixty were graduates of 
Harvard College. Of the five judges of the Supreme Court of that 
Province at the commencement of the difficulties, the Hon. William 
Gushing alone was of patriot'principles ; and he was afterwards on 
the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States." 

Our patriot fathers felt that they could not trust those 
to live among them who were the avowed enemies of free- 
dom, or the avowed supporters of the Crown. After long 
patience and ready allowances, the General Court felt 
called upon, in self-defence, to pass three acts. The first 
was passed September, 1778, entitled "An act to prevent 
the return to this State of certain persons therein named, 
and others who have left this State, or either of the United 
States, and joined the enemies thereof." The second was 
passed April 30, 1779, and was entitled " An act to confis- 
cate the estates of certain notorious conspirators against 
the government and liberties of the inhabitants of the late 
Province, now State, of Massachusetts Bay." The third 
was passed Sept. 30, 1779, and is entitled " An act for con- 
fiscating the estates of certain persons commonly called 
absentees y 

It is worthy of note that Col. Royal's name does not 
appear in either of the three lists of proscribed persons, 
although he was for twenty-two years a member of the 
Governor's Council. It is apparent that he loved his 
country and his friends ; and could he have been assured, 
at the outset, that the United States would secure their 
independence, and that he should be the undisturbed pos- 



146 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

sessor of his beautiful country-seat in Medford, he would 
probably have taken side with his old friend, Dr. Tufts, 
and his young friend, Dr. Brooks, and given generously for 
the cause of freedom. But he was timid, and supposed, as 
such men generally did, that the entire army and navy of 
<}reat Britain would soon be here to burn, sink, and kill 
indiscriminately. His valor counselled him to run. But 
'be it recorded, to the honor of the citizens of Medford, he 
was the only deserter. To carry on his farm after his 
departure was found to be sometimes difficult ; for " the 
honest man's scythe refused to cut Tory grass, and his 
oxen would not plough Tory ground." 

The town of Medford proceeded gently and wisely in 
taking possession of the estates of Tories and absentees. 
The order of Court under which they acted was passed 
-April, 1776. We find the following in our records : — 

Copy of the return made to the General Court, pursuant to a 
resolve of the Great and General Court passed last April, the Com- 
mittee of Safety, etc., of the town of Medford, have proceeded to take 
into their care the estates of sundry persons who are deemed inimical 
to the liberties of America, of which the following is a true account; 
viz. : — 

Of the estate belonging to Joseph Thompson, late of Medford : 
one piece pasture-land, and one piece marsh, which have been leased 
to Richard Crees, one year, for /; 4J-. A shop, leased to William 
Gowen for \os. per annum. Half a dwelling-house, leased to Jonathan 
Patten, one year, for ;^6 13^. /^d. Two-seventh parts of the following 
house and lands, being his share of his mother's thirds, undivided and 
not leased : a piece of plough-land, half an acre ; a piece mowing-land, 
one acre; a wood-lot, four acres ; one-third of half a dwelling-house. 
197,650 unburned bricks, i,8S6 feet pine boards, taken by the army, 
for which pay is promised. A pew in our meeting-house, not leased. 
Thirty-two dozen of tile, sold for ^3 d,s. 

Of the estate belonging to Sir William Pepperell ; viz., a pew in 
our meeting-house. No. 16, not leased. 

Of the estate belonging to one Clewly, in Halifax, left in the hands 
of Ichabod Jones of Boston, his trustee : two pieces of land leased to 
Paul Wyman, one year, for ^10. 

Joshua Svmoxds, "] 

Samuel Kidder, I Coinmittee 

Stephen Hall, Jun., f of Safety, etc. 
Ebenezer Hall, J 

Medford, Aug. 26, 1776. 

Dr. Simon Tufts, that skilful physician and polished gen- 
tleman, was persuaded to accept the agency of Col. Royal's 
affairs during an absence which was meant to be short. 
The breaking-out of hostilities so near to him as Lexing- 
ton was too much for the colonel's courage, and through 




'^^P^f^^^'j'im'j^ r. 






ROYAL HOUSE. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 147 

very fear he started for he knew not where. He arrived 
safely in Halifax, and there wrote his friend, Dr. Tufts, 
May, 1775, urging him to become his agent in taking care 
of his property. This the doctor declined, but afterwards 
accepted. From Halifax, Col. Royal wrote to Dr. Tufts, 
under date of March 12, 1776, concerning certain sales of 
slaves His directions were as follows : — 

" Please to sell the following negroes : Stephen and George ; they 
each cost ^60 sterling; and I would take £^10. or even ^15, apiece for 
them. Hagar cost ^35 sterling ; but I will take ^30 for her. I gave 
for Mira ^35, but will take ^25. If Mr. Benjamin Hall will give the 
f 100 for her which he offered, he may have her, it being a good place. 
As to Betsey, and her daughter Nancy, the former may tarry, or take 
her freedom, as she may choose ; and Nancy 3'OU may put out to some 
good family by the year." 

Col. Royal was then on the eve of departure for England ; 
and he thus writes to his friend in Medford : — 

" I shall leave North America. with great reluctance ; but mv health 
and business require it ; and I hope, through the goodness of God, if 
my life is spared, to be able to return again soon." 

In August, 1777, Dr. Tufts had a letter from him, dated 
Kensington, Eng. Col. Cary, who had married a lady from 
New York, occupied Col. Royal's house in 1778. The 
house and farm were rented for two hundred pounds. At 
a later period, when three gentlemen bought the entire 
estate on speculation, expecting to realize large fortunes 
by dividing the whole into lots, there was a valuation of 
the lots, and the sum total was $81,996. A few lots 
were sold, and the dreams of Croesus became those of 
Belisarius. 

Col. Royal's opinions and conduct respecting the strug- 
gles for independence subjected him to suspicion. The 
Committee of Safety in Medford felt called upon to exam- 
ine into facts ; and the testimony offered April 9, 1778, 
was as follows : — 

" Several persons were this day examined respecting Col. Royal's 
political behavior, who declared in substance, as follows : — 

" Simon Tufts, Esq., said he knew of nothing said Royal had said 
or done against the country ; but, on the contrary, he believed him to 
be a friend of the American cause. That said Roval being in Boston 
at and before the battle of Lexington, the confusion which that battle 
occasioned in the country made him afraid, at that time and after- 
wards, to return home; and that said confusion, which prevailed in 
Boston, made him afraid to stay there : accordingly he went to Hali- 



148 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

fax,, and from thence retired back into the country, and afterw'ards 
went to England. That, after said l^attle, said Royal sent him a letter 
of attorney, entreating him to take care of his estate here ; but he 
(said Tufts) declined it, on account of his own business, and returned 
back said power. That, some time after, finding said Royal's estate 
in a wasting condition, he sent to said Royal, informing him that he 
would undertake the care of it; and some time after he received a 
letter from said Royal, enclosing another power for that purpose, dated 
May 23, 1775 ' upon which he undertook to act as his attorney. That 
he had since made said Royal no remittances of any of the rents or of 
the estate (agreeable to a promise he had made to a former Committee). 
That the State of Rhode Island having sequestered what of said 
Royal's estate lay within their jurisdiction, he had applied to the 
General Assembly there, and informed them of the letters he had re- 
ceived from said Royal, empowering him to take the care of his 
estate ; and that they, after examination made, delivered the said estate 
up to him. and he has held it ever since, as attorney aforesaid. 

" Mr. Peter Tufts declared, that, about a fortnight before Lexington 
battle, Col. Royal told him that it would not do for us to resist Great 
Britain, for they were too strong for us, and would send over ten 
thousand Russians, who would subdue us ; and that, by his conversa- 
tion, it appeared to him (the said Tufts) that said Royal was for sur- 
rendering up all to Great Britain rather than make resistance. 

" Mr. Samuel Winship declared, that, on Sunday before said battle, 
said Royal went in his coach to Boston, and took with him a pair of 
pistols and a carabine, but for what end he did not know, nor never 
heard ; that at the same time he left in his house two fire-arms, which 
Mr. Poor, some days after, carried to Watertown. 

" Capt. Isaac Hall declared, that, the winter before said battle, he 
went to settle accounts with said Royal at his bouse, and that said 
Royal showed him his arms and accoutrements (which were in very 
good order), and told him that he determined to stand for his coun- 
try, etc. 

" Mr. Billings said that he heard Capt. Jenks say, that, a day or two 
before said battle. Col. Royal sent for him, and desired him to go to 
Salem, and procure him a passage to Antigua in a vessel bound .there ; 
and that he (said Jenks) would have gone, but the battle prevented 
him." 

To this testimony may be added that of Col. Royal him- 
self. In a letter to Dr. Tufts, dated " Kensington, April 
12, 1779," he says, — 

" I doubt not you, and Mr. Hall, and the rest of my friends, will 
do all in your power to procure me liberty from the General Court 
to return home as soon as my health will admit of." 

He vindicated his character against the charge of treach- 
ery to his country ; and in another letter, dated Aug. 22, 
1779, says, — 

" When 1 was in the General Court, I made the public good my 
aim in every thing that I endeavored to do; which I think every man 
ouijht to." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 49 

Mere fright should not be considered as constituting 
Toryism. A true Tory must have had a force of reason, 
and sense of right, wholly inconsistent with cowardice. 
Col. Royal's force of mind was not sufficient to make him 
a strong enemy of any thing. He is mentioned in Cur- 
wen's letters ; and there Mr. George A. Ward speaks of 
him thus : — 

'• Hon. Isaac Royal of Medford was remarked by every one for his 
timidity. He halted between two opinions respecting the Revolution, 
until the cannonading at Lexington drove him to Newbvirvport, and 
then to Halifax, and, after living some time in retirement, he em- 
barked for Europe. He was a proscribed refugee ; and his estate 

— since, that of Jacob Tidd, Esq. — was confiscated. He died of 
small-pox, in England, October, 1781. His bounty laid the first pro- 
fessorship of law at Cambridge ; and a legacy of plate to the iirst 
church in Medford shows that his regard for his country was not 
weakened by distance, nor seared by proscription. He bequeathed 
more than two thousand acres of land in Granby and Royalton, in 
Worcester County, for the establishment of the aforesaid professorship. 
He was for twenty-two j-ears a member of the Council. His virtues and 
popularity at first saved his estate, as his name was not included with 
those of his sons-in-law — Sir William Pepperell and George Erving 

— in the ' Conspirators Act ; ' but on the representation of the select- 
men of Medford, ' that he went voluntarily to our enemies,' his prop- 
erty was forfeited, and taken under the Confiscation Act. He made 
bequests to Medford and Worcester, and legacies to the clergymen. 
While a member of the House of Representatives, he presented the 
chandelier wliich adorns its hall. 

" George Erving, Esq., merchant, of Boston, who married one of 
Col. Royal's daughters, was a refugee included in the ' Conspirator's 
Act.' He died in London, Jan. 16, 1806, aged seventv. 

"Gen. Sir William Pepperell, baronet, was born at Kittery Point, 
Me., in 1696. He died at Kittery, June 6, 1759. 

"Col Royal was appointed one of the ' Mandamus Councillors' for 
this Province, by his Majest}-, Aug. 9, 1794; but he did not take the 
oath of office." 

1743 : He gave Charlestown one hundred pounds, which 
was used to build a parsonage. While representative, he 
returned to the town treasury his salary. In 1745 he gave 
eighty pounds to the school on Charlestown Neck. 

By his will he gave to Medford one hundred acres of 
land in Granby (South Hadley), " for the use and better 
support " of the common schools of the town. This 
Granby farm was sold, 1788, for one hundred dollars, to 
Mr. Richard Hall. 

Generosity was native with him, and shone the salient 
feature of his character. He loved to give, and loved to 
speak of it, and loved the reputation of it. Hospitality, 



I50 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

too, was almost a passion with him. No house in the 
Colony was more open to friends. No gentleman gave 
better dinners, or drank costlier wines. As a master he 
was kind to his slaves, charitable to the poor, and friendly 
to everybody. He kept a daily journal, minutely descrip- 
tive of every visitor, topic, and incident, and even de- 
scended to recording what slippers he wore, how much 
tar-water he drank, and when he went to bed. He was a 
strict observer of religious forms, and a generous sup- 
porter of Christian institutions. He was a Tory against 
his will. It was the frailty of his blood more than the 
fault of his judgment ; not that he loved the Colonies 
less, but that he feared England more. He wanted that 
unbending, hickory toughness which the times required. 

His gift of two thousand acres of land to Harvard Col- 
lege to found a professorship of law was by his last will. 
His words concerning his gift are, — 

"To be appropriated towards the endowing a professorship of law 
in said college, or a professorship of physic or anatomy, whichever 
the corporation and overseers of said college shall judge best for its 
benefit; and they shall have full power to sell said lands, and put the 
money out to' interest, the income whereof shall be for the aforesaid 
purpose." 

These funds were left to accumulate till 1815, when it 
was deemed expedient to establish a professorship of law. 
The next year the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial 
Court of Massachusetts, Hon. Isaac Parker, was elected, 
bearing the title, " Royall Professor of Law." 

This learned and worthy man gave a course of lectures 
immediately ; and, when thus brought in contact with 
college and legal education, he suggested the establishment 
of a law-school at Cambridge. This recommendation was 
joyfully greeted, and in 181 7 the Law-School was estab- 
lished. Thus Col. Royal was indirectly an originator of 
that school. Professor Parker held office for eleven years, 
and in 1827 resigned. Hon. Asahel Stearns (brother of 
Dr. Stearns of Medford) was then chosen, 181 7, and served 
acceptably till 1829, when John Hooker Ashman succeeded. 
He died in office, in 1833 ; and in 1834 Hon. Simon Green- 
leaf was chosen, and performed his duties with eminent 
success. He resigned in 1848, and was succeeded by Hon. 
Theophilus Parsons. These distinguished men have paid 
their tributes of respect to the memory of Col. Royal of 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 151 

Medford, and have recognized him as the primal cause of 
the establishment of a permanent school for that second 
of sciences, jurisprudence. 

Col. Isaac Royal was born in the Island of Antigua, in 
1 7 19. The English had established themselves there as 
early as 1636. The father of our townsman, who gave his 
own Christian name to his son, possessed great wealth, 
^nd, turning his eyes to Massachusetts, purchased of Eliza- 
iDeth, widow of John Usher, (lieutenant-governor), 504^ 
acres and 23 rods of land, for ;^io,350 'js. c)d., on the 26th 
December, 1732. The record runs thus : — 

"This estate is bounded south-west on Menotomy Road; west, on 
land of Nathaniel Tufts, Aaron Cleveland, and John Tufts ; east, on 
the river and salt marsh of Capt. Samuel Brooks, in part, and part 
on river and salt marsh now improved b)^ Josiah Whittemore ; and 
south-east, on land of said Whittemore, lying on both sides of Medford 
or Mystic Road." 

Col. Royal came here with his family in 1738. He died 
in Medford on Thursday, June 7, 1739, in the forenoon ; 
was buried in Medford on Saturday, loth inst. ; and was 
carried the same night to Dorchester, and there " buried 
in his marble tomb." His wife died April 21, 1747, and 
was buried from Col. Oliver's house in Dorchester. His 
son, who seemed also to inherit his father's title of colo- 
nel, fixed his residence in the house now standing, and 
which is yet called the " Royal House." It was built by 
Col. Royal into its present form, by enlarging the house 
built by Lieut. -Gov. Usher on that spot. A thick wall 
running through its centre shows the outer wall of the 
former building. Some diversities in the height of rooms 
indicate the same fact. Its exterior form is a copy of a 
nobleman's house in Antigua. It was at first within the 
limits of Charlestown ; and Col. Royal was chosen repre- 
sentative by that town nine years in succession, — from 
1743 to 1752. In 1752 he was promoted to a seat at the 
Council Board, and for twenty-two years performed his 
duties acceptably in that office. 

When Harvard Hall was burnt, Jan. 24, 1764, and the 
entire library of the college destroyed, he contributed most 
generously for the purchase of another. The first mention 
of him in the Medford Records is May 8, 1754, when he 
was chosen moderator in the town-meeting. For sixteen 
years he was chairman of the board of selectmen. 



152 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

He died of small-pox, in England, in 1781, and was buried 
there. His wife died in 1770. Funeral sermon by Rev. 
Mr. Turell. 

We have shown above how the virtues and hospitality 
of his character secured his estates from confiscation 
when those of his sons-in-law, Mr. George Erving and Sir 
William Pepperell, were not spared. But when it was sub- 
sequently testified that " he had gone voluntarily to our 
enemies," and his estates were therefore confiscated in 
1778, he writes to Mr. Edmund Quincy of Boston, 1779, 
complaining bitterly of this injustice, declaring that he had 
been prevented from returning to Medford solely by ill 
health. These acts of oppression, as viewed by him, did 
not weaken his attachment to this town ; for in his will, 
made in London in 1779, he bequeathed generously to the 
clergymen of Medford, to the church, and the schools. 
Many valuable tokens he left to friends in Boston and to 
the town of Worcester. 

His daughter Elizabeth, who married the second Sir Wil- 
liam Pepperell, died on her passage to England, in 1775. 
Her husband died in London, in 1816, aged seventy. 

Although Col. Royal's property in Medford was con- 
fiscated in 1778, it was kept together and well guarded by 
officers appointed by the judge of probate. By the act 
of 1777, the General Court empowered the judge of pro- 
bate to nominate agents to take charge of the estates of 
absentees, with full power to keep and improve the same. 
Col. Royal was an exception to the great body of Royalists ; 
and, although the General Court dealt with his property 
as with that of a voluntary absentee, they nevertheless 
considered that it might be restored on his return to Med- 
ford. The laws which took effect on Col. Royal were as 
follows : — 

"January, 177S: Resolved, To prevent any person from returning 
into this State, who left it as aforesaid, unless such return be by the 
leave of the General Court." 

"April 30, 177S: On petition of Simon Tufts. Resolved, That 
Simon Tufts, Esq., of Medford, be, and he hereby is, directed to 
deliver into the hands of the Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- 
tion, etc., of the town of said Medford, all the estate of Isaac Roval, 
Esq., that he the said Tufts has in his hands, which he the said 
Royal left in the said town of Medford. And the said Committee of 
Medford are hereby directed to receive the same, and improve it in the 
best and most prudent manner they can, agreeable to the resolves of 
this Court respecting absentees' estates. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 53 

" And it is also resolved, That the several Committees of Corre- 
spondence, Inspection, etc., of such towns and plantations within this 
State, are directed to take possession of any estate in each town or 
plantation respectively that belonged to the said Isaac Royal when 
he left this State. And all such persons holding possession of any 
such estate are hereby directed to deliver possession thereof to such 
committees respectively. And said Committee are further directed to 
observe the same rules relative thereto as they are ordered to do in 
managing the estates of other absentees." 

October, 1778 : The General Court order agents of es- 
tates of absentees to lay before them an account of all the 
property of such persons, and, furthermore, resolve that 
none of the real estate shall be sold to pay their debts. 

Feb. I, 1779: The General Court resolved that all 
moneys received from rent or sale of the land of absentees 
be put into the treasury of the State. 

May I, 1779: The Court resolved to direct all agents 
to warn out the present possessors, and give possession to 
the new lessees of the State. 

May, 1779 : The General Court appointed a committee 
to sell at auction the confiscated estates of certain absen- 
tees. Sir William Pepperell, the son-in-law of Col. Royal, 
is named in the list ; but Col. Royal is not. 

October, 1782: The General Court resolved that the 
estates of absentees ought to be held to pay the just debts 
of said persons, and therefore they order that the moneys 
received from the sale of such estates shall go to pay the 
creditors, deducting three per cent to the State for ex- 
penses. 

The mode of restoring the estate of Col. Royal to his 
heirs, and their disposition of it, may be learned from the 
following documents. 

Extract from the deed given by Henry Hutton and 
Elizabeth Royal Hutton of England, to Mr. Robert Fletcher 
of London, dated London, Feb. 25, 1806. It refers to the 
powers granted by the Legislature : — 

" And whereas, bv an Act of the Legislature of Massachusetts, passed 
on or about the 31st January, 1S05, it was enacted or resolved that the 
Hon. James Sullivan, Attorney-General of said Commonwealth, and 
the Hon. Christopher Gore, or the survivors of them, should be, and 
they were, thereby authorized to make and execute a deed of con- 
veyance of the said lands, messuages, and tenements, formerly belong- 
ing to tjie said Isaac Royal, to the said Robert Fletcher, his heirs and 
assigns, in fee simple, in manner and form as was provided by the Act 
passed on the Sth of March, 1792, entided, 'An Act for providing a 
more easy and simple method than was then in use for barring estates 



154 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

in tail in lands, and for making the same liable for the payment of the 
debts of tenants in tail ;' and that such deed, executed and acknowl- 
edj^ed by the said James Sullivan and Christopher Gore, Esqrs., or 
the survivors of them, and recorded in the Registry of Deeds, in the 
Counties of Middlesex and Norfolk respectively, should be as good 
and sufficient in law, and should have the same' force and effect, as 
though the same were made, executed, and acknowledged by Charles 
Henry Hutton, the eldest son of the said Henry Hutton and Elizabeth 
Koval, his wife, when of full age, and in possession of the said 
premises. 

" And that for and notwithstanding any act, matter, or thing done 
by them, or either of them, they have good right and lawful authority 
to sell and convey the said houses, lands, tenements, pew, and hered- 
itaments, with their appurtenances, unto and to the use of the said 
Robert Fletcher, his heirs and assigns." 

The deed was for " five hundred acres of land, on the 
west side of Mystic River, with the mansion-house," for 
all which Mr. Fletcher agreed to pay sixteen thousand 
pounds. 

These legislative acts and public documents show that 
Col. Royal's property in Medford was dealt with at last 
after the maimer of other absentees ; that it came into 
legal possession of the State, and was put under the care 
of the Medford Committee of Inspection, and all the 
rents and incomes paid into the treasury of the State. For 
twenty-seven years it continued in this situation, when a 
petition or claim of the heirs of Col. Royal was preferred. 
The records of these details we have not been able to find, 
but the final results are seen in the legislative grants of 
1805. 

We take leave of our townsman with the remark that 
he was so generous a benefactor, so true a friend, so useful 
a citizen, and so good a Christian, that we forget he was a 
Tory — if he was one. Happy would it be for the world, 
if at death every man could strike as well as he did the 
balance of this world's accounts. 




OLD TUFTS HOUSE. PUBLIC SQUARE. (REMOVED IN 1867.) 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 155 



CHAPTER V. 

POLITICAL HISTORY. 

Medford took an inconspicuous but honorable part in 
the poHtical movements of colonial times. At an early 
date, it expressed its determination to preserve inviolate 
the rights and privileges secured to the colony by the 
charter of 1629. When the four colonies of Plymouth, 
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Haven united, May 
19, 1643, under the name of "The United Colonies of 
New England," their politics and patriotism seemed to 
expand together ; and this fraternal bond was especially 
strengthened in our ancestors' hearts, when, by the char- 
ter of Oct. 7, 1 69 1, Plymouth was annexed to Massachu- 
setts. 

As early as 1643 the General Court had said, "that the 
whole plantation, within this jurisdiction, is divided into 
four shires ; to wit, Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex, and Suf- 
folk ; " but the political ties were not satisfactorily ad- 
justed until the Act of 1691. Previous to this last-named 
date, Medford had taken jmrt in Provincial politics by 
sending to the General Court a representative in 1689, 
and again in 1690; Mr. Peter Tufts filling that position 
in both cases. It is not certain that the town paid the 
expenses of their representative in those years ; but, in 
1697, it voted to pay him I'^d. per day, during the period 
of his service in the General Court. 

The political integrity of Medford began to be tested in 
1686, when the indignation of our fathers at the oppres- 
sive taxation of Andros was expressed by a fisherman, a 
resident of the town, in a pointed figure drawn from his 
craft. Sir Edmund Andros, belonging to that select po- 
litical family of which Benedict Arnold was an accepted 
member, was sent by the King as a spy to New England 
in 1684. He gathered facts from his imagination, and 



156 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

returned to persuade the credulous royal government that 
the Colonies had forfeited their charter. This induced 
the king to appoint him "Governor-General and Vice- 
Admiral of New England, New York, and the Jerseys." 
He arrived in Boston, Dec. 29, 1686, and commenced, as 
despots generally do, with professions of friendship and 
patriotism. But he came prepared to trample on the lib- 
erties of the people, by bringing with him power to enact 
laws, raise an army, impose taxes, and abolish the repre- 
sentative system. He thus destroyed townships, and said, 
"There is no such thing as a town in the whole coun- 
try." He and his Council were vested with all legislative 
and executive powers. And thus the country mourned 
over their lost charter and fallen liberties. This tyrant 
contended that every owner of land must renew his title 
to it, and for his agency the most exorbitant lees were 
demanded. He levied taxes without any permission from 
the people or government, and iiunished cruelly those who 
refused to pay. The inhabitants of everv town were 
forbidden to meet and exercise their corpoiate powers, 
except once a year: and they were told by the judges, in 
open court, " that they had no more privileges left them, 
than not to be sold for slaves." 

The Anglo-Saxon blood of our Puritan fathers could not 
brook this ; and they dared to more than think of relief. 
The great revolution of 1688, in the mother country, 
ending in the abdication of James, and the accession of 
William and Mary, afforded an encouraging example on 
this side the water. That example was promptly followed; 
and on the morning of the i8th of April, 1689, the people 
rose in righteous revolt, seized their oppressor, secured 
him in prison, and destroyed his government. This was 
decisive New-Englandism. He was soon sent back to 
London to be tried. Of this odious ruler, the fisherman 
referred to said, "If Andros comes to Medford, we will 
treat him, not with shad or alewives, but a .ytcw/vZ-fish." 

The loyalty of our fathers was seen in their holding days 
of public fasting and prayer when sorrow or defeat visited 
the mother country, and of holding days of thanksgiving 
when prosperity and triumph blessed the King. As an 
example, we would mention a day of rejoicing set apart in 
Medford, Oct, 14, 1743, on account of victory gained by 
the English troops in Germanv. 

1753. Medford was fined ;^I0 for omitting to send a 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 57 

representative to the General Court; but, Jan. 10, 1754, 
this fine was remitted. 

Our town, though small, did its share in Philip's War, 
and raised money and men to put down that intelligent 
and brave Indian enemy. The same spirit of liberty 
breathed in their souls at a later day; and, when the odi- 
ous Stamp Act was proclaimed, the inhabitants of Medford 
came together, as with a rush, on the 21st of October, 
1765, to express their sober convictions of its unconstitu- 
tionality and injustice. With entire unanimity, they ad- 
dressed a letter to their representative, protesting against 
some former acts of Parliament, but most emphatically 
against "this most grievous of all acts, wherein a compli- 
cation of those burdens and restraints are unhappily im- 
posed, which will undeniably deprive us of those invaluable 
liberties and privileges which we, as free-born Britons, 
have hitherto enjoyed." Professing loyalty to their King 
and Parliament, they nevertheless say, that, "whenever 
they require such an obedience from us as is incompatible 
with the enjoyment of our just liberties and properties, 
we cannot but arise and openly remonstrate against it. 
And this, we esteem, is so far from a spirit of rebellion 
and disloyalty in us, that to act the contrary would argue 
in us a meanness and degeneracy of spirit much beneath 
the character of true Englishmen, and would therefore 
justly expose us to the contempt of all true lovers of lib- 
erty, both in Great Britain and America. . . . Therefore 
we seriously enjoin it upon you, as our representative, that 
you be no ways aiding or assisting in the execution of said 
Act." 

This language was not disloyal ; yet it had the ring of 
fearless courage, and was as f)rophetic as it was just and 
noble. 

Every little village in the Province was moved to indig- 
nation by this first instance of oppression ; and no one of 
them spoke more promptly, or acted more fearlessly, than 
did the town on the Mystic. 

On the 1 8th of March, 1766, Parliament repealed the 
odious Act by a vote of two hundred and seventy-five to 
one hundred and sixty-seven. The joy exhibited at Med- 
ford, on this event, was most intense, and was manifested 
by fire-works, ringing of bells, and jubilant dinners. 

Parliament resumed taxation, June 29, 1767, and assert- 
ed its right to "bind the Colonies in all cases whatsoever." 



158 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Duties were laid on paper, tea, glass, and painters' colors. 
A custom-house was opened, and a civil-list established ; 
and the Act provided, that, after ministerial warrants are 
satisfied, the residue of the revenue shall be at the dis- 
posal of Parliament. The trump of doom could not have 
caused a more general awakening. New England now 
was doubly alive. 

The preparation-note was sounded in Medford, Dec. 21, 
1772, in these words : — 

"Voted to choose a Committee to take under consideration the 
grievances we labor under, and in particular of salaries said to be 
appointed by the Crown for our supreme judges : and also to draw 
up instructions for our representative relative thereto." 

This signal-gun, fired from the battlements of liberty, 
gave no "uncertain sound," as will be seen in the follow- 
ing acts of our patriotic fathers. Dec. 31, 1772 : — 

" Voted that the thanks of the town of Medford be given to the 
respectable inhabitants of the town of Boston for their patriotic care 
and vigilance (manifest on several occasions) in endeavoring to pre- 
serve our civil constitution from innovation, and to maintain the same 
inviolate. And we do assure them that our assistance shall not be 
wanting in the use of all such lawful proper measures as shall be 
thought expedient to be adopted for the preservation of our liber- 
ties, civil and religious." 

Another evidence of the sterling patriotism of our Med- 
ford fathers, in that early time, is found in the instructions 
given in their Soletnn Declaration of Sentiments, sent to 
their representative, Mr. Simon Tufts : — 

"Sir, — You being our representative, we your constituents, this 
day in lawful town-meeting assembled, having taken into serious con- 
sideration the many and alarming grievances, as generally and justly 
complained of, which the Colonies in general, and this Province in 
particular, labor under, as being subversive of the essential rights and 
privileges of free British subjects, and repugnant both to the letter 
and spirit of our royal charter, take the freedom to lay before 30U our 
sentiments thereupon, and to enjoin vou, as our representative, to use 
your best endeavors in the Honorable House of Representatives, at 
their next sessions, in promoting and assisting in such constitutional 
measures as shall appear best, and most likely to obtain redress of 
the same. 

"It would be too tedious, as well as needless, to enumerate and 
particularly remind you of all the grievances we suffer at this time 
from ministerial and parliamentary proceedings ; Init it may suffice to 
say generally, that our sentiments of the claims we are justly entitled 
to, as free British subjects, and also of the infringements from time to 
time made upon them, are similar to those contained in the pamphlet 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 59 

(now read) which our patriotic brethren of Boston have generously 
furnished us with ; which book we recommend to your serious 
perusal. 

" In particular, we desire that you inquire into the truth of a report 
currently spread and prevailing among us, namely, that the Hon. Jus- 
tices of the Superior Court are in future to receive their salaries from 
the Crown. Since such a ]:irovision, which renders them so enor- 
mously dependent upon the Crown, is of so threatening an aspect, so 
dangerous to the free and impartial administration of justice, as must 
alarm every serious person who has the welfare of his country at 
heart, it gives us just reason to fear that the axe is now laid at the 
root of our liberty, luith a fixed intention to hew it down. 

"Therefore, sir, if upon inquiry you find this to be really the case, 
we trust you will zealously and vigorously exert yourself to avert so 
formidable an evil, and frustrate the wicked machinations of our in- 
veterate enemies ; and. in the mean time, that you will endeavor that 
the Hon. Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of As- 
sizes, and General Jail Delivery, be amply and honorably supported 
b}' grants from the General Assembly, and in such a manner as shall 
best tend to the maintaining of justice in the land. Finally, that you 
endeavor that the disputes and differences now subsisting betwixt 
Great Britain and the Colonies be speedily and amicably adjusted, and 
peace and harmony again restored." 

A copy of the above was sent to the town of Boston. 

The records of Medford are full of the most clear and 
stirring expressions of patriotism with reference to the 
oppressions of the Crown. So near to Boston, every pul- 
sation of that central heart found an answering beat in the 
bosoms of our ancestors. They were among the first and 
steadiest supporters of colonial rights. There were men 
in Medford, in 1770, who knew their political, civil, and 
religious position, and who were ready to defend them- 
selves from parliaments and ministers and kings. It will 
not be necessary to copy into this history the many decla- 
rations and resolutions which glow with the auroral light 
of liberty on the records of the town. It may be interest- 
ing to see into what form their views and feelings had 
settled in 1773 ; and these may be apprehended by the fol- 
lowing record of a town-meeting held for the special pur- 
pose of expressing their opinion upon the Tea Question. 

The record is as follows : — 

"The town being informed, that, by reason of the American mer- 
chants generally refusing to import tea from Great Britain while sub- 
jected to the payment of the duty imposed thereon by the British 
Parliament, the East India Company there have been so greatly 
embarrassed in the sale of their teas, that they hav^e at length deter- 
mined (through permission of Parliament) to export a supply for the 
Colonies on their own account. Several ships have already arrived 



l6o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

in Boston witli large quantities on board, and several more are daily 
expected : and we are informed that tlie said duty will be paid upon 
all such teas. 

" To prevent, therefore, the many formidable evils consequent 
upon the success of this alarming and subtle attempt to rivet the 
chains of oppression, the town, after mature deliberation, comes into 
the following resolutions: — 

" I. Resolved, That it is the incumbent duty of all free British sub- 
jects in America to unite in the use of all lawful measures necessary 
and expedient for the preservation and security of their rights and 
privileges, civil and religious. 

" 2. That it is the opinion of this town, that the British Parliament 
have 710 constitutional authority to tax these Colonies witliout their 
07un consent; and that, therefore, the present dutv laid upon tea, 
imported here from Great Britain for the purpose of a revenue, is a 
tax illegally laid upon and extorted from us. 

"3. That said India Company's exporting their own teas to the 
Colonies, while charged with said duty, has a direct tendency to 
establish said revenue acts. 

"4. That we will exert ourselves, and join with our American 
brethren, in adopting and prosecuting all legal and proper measures 
to discourage and prevent the landing, storing and vending, and 
using those teas among us; and that whosoever shall aid or assist 
said India Company, their factors or servants, in either landing, stor- 
ing, or selling the same, does a manifest injurv to his country, and 
deserves to be treated with severity and contempt. 

" 5. That we are ready at all times, in conjunction with our Ameri- 
can brethren, as loyal subjects, to risk our lives and fortunes in the 
service and defence of His Majesty's person, crown, and dignity; and 
also, as a free people, in asserting and maintaining inviolate our civil 
and religious rights and privileges against all opposers whatever. 

"6. That the thanks of this town be and are hereby given to our 
worthy brethren of the town of Boston, for their unwearied care and 
pains in endeavoring to preserve our rights and privileges free from 
innovation, and furnishing this and our other towns with copies of 
their late proceedings. 

"Voted, That a copy of these resolutions and proceedings be trans- 
mitted to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston." 

June r, 1774: The. Boston Port Bill, which prohibited all 
trade by water, brought the great question to its issue. 
Every one here was asking, Must we be slaves.'' Can we 
be free .' When men's labor is forbidden, and their bread 
fails, then "bayonets begin to think." Our fathers nov^r 
felt the hope of the country was in the tmioji of the Col- 
onies. 

Men who could understand these acts of oppression, 
and could thus talk, were ready and willing to act ; and 
their first prophetic deed was that of abstinence. Nov. 14, 
1774, Medford voted thus: "Resolved, That, if any per- 
son or persons sells or consumes any East India teas, the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. l6l 

names of such persons to be posted up in some public • 
place." Again, " Voted, that we zvill jiot use East India-, 
teas till the Acts be repealed^ This was equivalent to. 
cleaning the rifle, and looking into the cartridge-box. 

Medford had its stock of powder deposited in the pow- 
der-house, on Quarry Hill, with that of other towns, and 
on the 27th of August, 1774, removed it. Gov. Gage 
heard that the powder in that house was fast leaving it ;: 
and, as he called it the "king's powder," he resolved to. 
remove it to Castle William (Fort Independence). Ac- 
cordingly, "on Thursday morning, Sept. i, about half-past 
four, two hundred and sixty troops, under the command; 
of Lieut.-Col. Maddison, embarked at Long Wharf, Bos- 
ton, in thirteen boats, sailed up Mystic River, landed at; 
Temple's farm (Ten Hills), marched to the powder-house, 
and removed all the powder in it, two hundred and fifty 
half-barrels, to Castle William." This clandestine act of 
power, executed on the very borders of Medford, called 
forth here the deepest indignation, and made every man 
ready for the issue which it foreshadowed. It is impossible 
now to conceive of the excitement which this act pro- 
duced. 

We find the inhabitants of Medford again assembled ; 
and Feb. i, 1775, two representatives, Benjamin Hall, and 
Stephen Hall, 3d, are sent to the Provincial Congress at 
Cambridge. Medford now, as one man, enrolled itself, 
and stood ready at the first tap of the drum. Signs of 
terrible portent abounded, and soon came the 19th of 
April. A beacon-light had been displayed from a church 
tower in Boston, to tell the purpose of the British com- 
mander. Paul Revere and William Dawes had been de- 
spatched from Roxbury and Charlestown, to Concord and 
Lexington, shouting the alarm from house to house; the 
bells had rung, the drums had beat, and sturdy yeomen 
were rushing to the point of danger. Every heart palpi- 
tated with anxiety, as when the lightning is expected 
from the overhanging cloud. Then the time came. The 
British regulars were marching from Boston to Lexing- 
ton for plunder and hostility, and patriotism reddened 
every true American's cheek at the announcement of this 
fact. 

The hearts of the people of Medford moved as by one 
common impulse. There was no need for conscription. 
All were ready for the terrible ordeal. The men seized 



1 62 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

their guns, filled their powder-horns and cartridge-boxes, 
and hastened to the expected affray. 

Some IMedford minute-men soon joined the ranks of 
their neighbors from Reading, who had volunteered already, 
oinder the command of their gallant young physician, John 
iBrooks. 

The Medford company, fifty-nine in all, were out early 
'On their march to the scene of danger, and for five days 
were in active service. The maxim at Medford was this : 
■"iEvery citizen a soldier, every soldier a patriot." 

A Medford farmer at the West End, as soon as he 
"heard of the march of the British towards Lexington, ran 
to his house, seized his gun, and made ready for departure. 
Dinner was on the table, but he would not stop. His 
wife exclaimed, "Why, husband, you are not going with- 
■'out your dinner ! " — "Yes, I am," he replied ; " I am going 
'to take powder and balls for my dinner to-day, or to give 
■ them some." 

These were times when men had reasons shorter than 
Jlogic. Their minds glowed like the burning furnace ; and 
to put a stop to British oppression they were resolved, 
'God and freedom now became watchwords. 

All felt that every true American was an ally, and they 
knew that the first shot fired at their neighbors at Lex- 
ington would convert every citizen in the Colony to a 
minute-man and a soldier. These ancestors of ours were 
men ; they have the right to be called men ; and with 
such men liberty was safe. How faintly, at this day, can 
we conceive of the electric enthusiasm of the 19th of 
April ! It seemed — 

" As if the very earth again 

Grew quick with God's creating breath ; 

And, from the sods of grove and glen. 

Rose ranks of hon-hearted men 
To battle to the death." 

The number belonging to Medford who were killed on 
that day is not known. William Polly and Henry Putnam 
fell at Concord ; and a man named Smith, and another 
named Francis, were killed at West Cambridge, — all citi- 
zens of Medford. Mr. Polly was brought to Medford alive, 
but died of his wounds April 25. 

The Medford men followed the retreating British from 
Lexington woods to Charlestown ferry, and shot their last 
ball during the embarkation. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 163 

Medford men were with Washington at Monmouth, at 
Brandywine, at the crossing of the Delaware, and in other 
places, and fought bravely for the liberties and independ- 
ence of their country. 

Mr. Nowell, in his diary, kept at Boston, has the follow- 
ing:— 

"Aug. 6, 1775: Skirmishing up Mistick River. Several soldiers 
brought over here wounded. The house at Penny Ferry, Maiden 
side, burnt.'' " Aug. 13. — Several gondaloes sailed up .Mistick River, 
upon which the Provincials and they had a skirmish ; many shots ex- 
changed, but nothing decisive." 

It appears from these records, that the enemy attempted 
incursions here, but were promptly met and repulsed by 
our fathers. This event put the inhabitants of Medford 
in a state of watchfulness and defence at the very earliest 
period of the Revolution. 

A detachment of troops from the army at Cambridge 
was ordered east; and, on the 13th of September, 1775,, 
they encamped for the night in Medford, having Benedict 
Arnold as their commander. 

After the battles of Lexington and Concord, our patriot 
fathers felt themselves pledged to the cause, and much 
anxiety arose about the selection of their representative 
to the General Court. They felt that the most moment- 
ous questions might come up for discussion, and that the 
decision of Massachusetts might be final. 

The gentleman they first chose declined. The choice 
then fell on Capt. Thomas Brooks, as a man whose solid 
judgment, characteristic decision, and burning patriotism, 
fitted him for the trying emergencies. So ably and 
promptly did he fill his trust, that the town elected him 
eight times in succession. From his own farm he sup- 
plied the army with wood while in Charlestown and on 
Winter Hill. 

June 10, 1776: The selectmen assembled the inhabit- 
ants of Medford for this high and solemn purpose, name- 
ly:— 

"To know the minds of the town, — whether, should the Honor- 
able Congress, for the safety of the said Colonies, declare tliein inde- 
pendent of tlie Kingdom of Great Britain, they, the said inhabitants, 
will solemnly engage, with their lives and fortunes, to support 
them in the measure. 

" \"oted in the affirmative, unanimously.^'' 

The Declaration of Independence was read from the 



1 64 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

pulpit on the first Sunday after its arrival. After this, 
the question of preparing and adopting a form of free 
representative government came before every mind ; and 
Sept. 20, 1776, found our fathers assembled to discuss it. 
They voted that they were "ready for a Constitution and 
a form of government for the future." That year, for 
the first time, two representatives were chosen, — Capt. 
Thomas Brooks, and Mr. Stephen Hall, 3d. 

The expenses of war were borne without a murmur in 
Medford ; and every person made a cheerful sacrifice of 
whatever was necessary to promote the cause of freedom. 
In 1776 the inhabitants taxed themselves £226, in addi- 
tion to the current expenses of the year. 

March 3, 1777: "Voted to raise our quota of men for 
the fifteen battalions of the Continental Army." 

Sept. 22, 1777: "The town voted to raise £77^ 4s. for 
the expenses of the war." 

May 25, 1778: "Voted to pay each person six shillings 
per day who served under Capt. Blaney, as soldiers for 
Medford last winter." 

"Voted that the selectmen be the committee for sup- 
plying the families of the Continental soldiers." 

May 28, 1778: "Voted to raise the sum of ^1,400 to- 
wards defraying the charges of the town the ensuing 
year." 

Nov. 30: "Voted to raise ^1,600, in additon to the 
^1,400 voted last May." 

1779: "Voted to raise ^3,000 for current expenses, 
and to borrow $12,000 for three months." 

Oct. 18, 1779: "Voted to raise $7,380 to pay the sol- 
diers." 

June 29, 1781 : "Voted to raise ^400 towards purchas- 
ing the beef, and £,270 for purchasing the clothing." 

July 30, 1781 : "Voted to raise ;£200 in specie for rais- 
ing the men." 

These items show any thing but backwardness in sus- 
taining the cause of independence. 

One Medford boy did good service at sea. William 
Earl, of Medford, was " powder-monkey " on board the 
ship-of-war "Bon Homme Richard," Sept. 23, 1779, then 
commanded by Capt. Paul Jones. On that day the 
captain encountered the British ship-of-war "Serapis," 
greatly his superior in force ; and, after a most desperate 
and bloody engagement off Flamborough Head, he cap- 








t ^ \ 






^ .\ 






1 










X 






HISTORY OF MED FORD. 165 

tured her. Young Earl lost his leg in that battle, and 
afterwards received a pension. He pursued his trade 
as a tailor for many years, and it was said that he could 
sing as well as he fought in that terrible engagement. 

STATE CONSTITUTION. 

The people of Massachusetts felt the need of a Consti- 
tution, or form of civil government. A convention for 
draughting one was called ; and they presented the result 
of their labors Feb. 28, 1778. In draughting this Con- 
stitution, the Legislature acted as a Convention. They 
sat at Cambridge. 

May 25, 1778: "The inhabitants of Medford expressed 
their opinion." The record runs thus : — 

*' The Constitution and form of government being read, it was put 
to vote ; and there appeared to be thirteen in favor of it. and twenty- 
three against it." 

" The Constitution for Massachusetts Bay " was rejected. 

The question, whether the State desired a Constitution, 
was put ; and our records, May 17, 1779, have the follow- 
ing: — 

" Put to vote, — Whether the town choose at this time to have a 
new Constitution or form of government made. Yeas, 22; nays, 15." 

They appoint a committee to instruct their Representa- 
tive (Capt. Thomas Brooks). The record stands thus : — 

" May 17, 1779 : The Committee appointed to instruct their Repre- 
sentative relative to forming a new Constitution of civil government in 
this State report, — That said Representative use his best endeavors 
and influence, that, if the General Court are empowered by the ma- 
jority of freeholders of said State to call a convention to form said 
"Constitution of government, said convention may consist of no per- 
son or persons belonging to said General Court." 

Soon afterwards a new movement was made, and an- 
other convention called. Separate counties held prepara- 
tory meetings; and, October, 1779, Stephen Willis, 3d, 
was chosen delegate to meet in convention at Concord. 
When the town came to act on the doings of this conven- 
tion, the record of its proceedings was made as follows: — 

"July 29, 1779: The whole of the proceedings of the convention 
at Concord was read, paragraph by paragraph, and then voted upon 
separately; and it was unanimously voted that we comply with the 
same." 



l66 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The drau2;ht of the new Constitution for Massachusetts 
was at last prepared: and May 28, 1780, Mcdtord accept- 
ed it, with the following suggestions in regard to some 
amendments. The committee reported as follows: — 

" We apprehend that the Governor, with the advice of the Council, 
should, in the recess of the General Court, be vested with tiie power, 
on special occasions, in time of war and rebellion, to order the militia 
out of this State to the assistance of a neighboring State : and that 
the said Governor, with the advice of Council, shall not be empowered 
to continue the militia out of this State, on the aforesaid emergencies, 
lor a longer space than thirty days at one time, without the consent 
of the General Court. Yeas, 49; nays, 5. 

" Concerning the writ of habeas corpus, we are of the opinion that 
it should not be suspended by the Legislature, on any account, for a 
longer space of time than six months. Unanimously, 39. 

" We are of opinion that no person ought to be elected a Delegate 
to the Congress of the United States, who is not possessed of prop- 
ertv in the State of Massachusetts, to the value of ^600, currency, 
according to tlie Convention. Unanimously, 39 votes. 

" We should be pleased if the above alterations might be made in 
the said Constitution, but mean not that said alterations should pre- 
vent the establishment of said Constitution at the ne.\t session of said 
Convention. 

" Edward Brooks, ) 
Simon Tufts, >■ Committee." 

Aaron Hall, ) 

Stephen Hall, 3d, was the delegate from Medford to 
form the constitution of 1780. The convention sat at 
Cambridge from Sept. i, 1779, ^o March 2, 1780. 

After the adoption of this constitution, the form used 
in warning town-meetings was changed, and they warned 
"in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." 

Thus established under a republican constitution of 
their own making, our ancestors felt as if they had passed 
from a state of minority to a state of manhood. The first 
election, therefore, under this new political chart, was an 
event of deep interest. They wished to set an example 
of wise selection, disinterested patriotism, and fraternal 
unanimity, which might serve for an example to all future 
times. They did so. They selected intelligent statesmen, 
true patriots, and professing Christians. The first elec- 
tion took place Sept. 4, 1780; and in Medford the votes 
stood thus : — 

For Governor. 
John Hancock 30 I James Bowdoin 20 



^ .^.^ ^.^z^^:^ ^^..H,,^ .^^Qj .«.>,;^ ^^"Ck.^— ,^-. 







HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



167 



For Lieutenant-Governor. 

Artemas Ward 30 ' James Bowdoin 2 

Benjamin Lincoln .... 9 | Thomas Gushing i 

John Hancock 3 i Benjamin Greenleaf ... i 

For Senators and Councillors. 



Col. Cummings ..... 23 

Stephen Hall, 3d 13 

William Baldwin 11 

Josiah Stone 34 

Nathaniel Gorham .... 24 

James Dix 25 

Eleazer Brooks 24 



Abraham Fuller 12 

Oliver Prescott 3 

Samuel Thatcher 2 

Thomas Brooks i 

Samuel Curtis 2 

Benjamin Hall I 



Here we find two or more candidates for each ofifice ; 
thus parties, inseparable from a state of free inquiry and 
equal rights, revealed themselves at once. The question 
being settled, the next election showed great unanimity, 
and recognized that central principle of majority which 
lies at the basis of our civil liberties. The Constitution 
provided that, the annual election should take place in 
April ; thus giving the farmers the winter to think of it, 
and an occasion of finishing it before planting. 

April 2, 1781 : The second in the series of the annual 
elections took place on this day, and the votes in Med- 
ford stood thus : — 



For Governor. 
John Hancock .... 



I For Lieutenant-Governor. 
24 1 Thomas Gushing 20 



For Senators. 



Seth Gorham . 
James Prescott 
John Tyng . . 



Abraham Fuller 22 

Josiah Stone 22 



The State government took up the cause of independ- 
ence with wisdom and power. At this time, a levy of 
clothing and beef for the army was made by it, and our 
records show that Medford raised its share with prompti- 
tude. 

The third annual election of State officers resulted as 
follows : — 



For Governor. 
John Hancock 45 



For Lieutenant-Governor. 
Thomas Gushing 44 



1 68 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



For Senators. 



Ebenezer Bridge 37 I Eleazer Brooks 37 

Josiah Stone 36 Jonas Dix 35 

Abraham Fuller 37 | Joseph Hosmer 3 

At the fourth annual election, April 7, 1783, Gov. Han- 
cock had, in Medford, 36 votes ; Lieut.-Gov. Cushing, 30. 
Each senator had 24. These facts show remarkable 
political harmony in the town. 

The recognition of our independence by the mother 
country called for an expression of gratitude to Almighty 
God, and a day of thanksgiving was set apart by authority 
of the town. There were meetings and feastings and con- 
gratulations and rejoicings without number. It seemed 
here as if the whole heavens were filled with rainbows. 
So intoxicated with hope were our fathers, that they sup- 
posed all national troubles ended. 

On the I St of March, 1784, in town-meeting, they thus 
voted : " That the guns and gunlocks, axes, pickaxes, spades, 
shovels, and lead, belonging to the town, be -sold at public 
auction." When the first gush of republican joy was over, 
and the town became settled in the new ways of freedom, 
then they began to ask how much independence had cost, 
in pounds, shillings, and pence. 

Medford took steps to pay its debts at the earliest period. 
It was to be done by degrees; and, May 12, 1785, they 
vote thus : " To raise ^400 to defray the expenses of the 
town, and £,Apo towards sinking the town-debt." The 
next year they vote that " one quarter of the town's debt 
be paid this year." They thus continued the wise work 
of liquidating all claims against their treasury, and, before 
many years, were free also in this particular. 

Our fathers shared largely in the intense anxiety which 
pervaded the United States, from the declaration of peace, 
in 1783, to the adoption of the Federal Constitution, in 1788. 
Though independence was achieved, yet it might prove a 
curse, if a form of government could not be adopted which 
would harmoniously unite all the colonies into a strong, 
just, and brotherly union. To draught such a constitution 
required all the Numas, Lycurguses, and Solons of the 
land. Therevvas in the country the wisdom, the learning, 
the patriotism, and the virtue necessary for the stupen- 
dous and all-important work ; but attending circumstances 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 69 

were, in some respects, unpropitious. Differing opinions 
and opposite interests, state rights and state sovereignties 
already established, the disbanded soldiers sowing discon- 
tent and immorality among the citizens, the enormous 
public and private debts, the unwarrantably large impor- 
tations of foreign merchandise, the draining of the specie 
from the country, and the fear of a political chaos, — all 
these fertile sources of alarm rendered the formation of a 
durable federal compact a gigantic labor. March 10, 1787, 
a convention of delegates from the several States was 
agreed upon, who should prepare a form of government 
which should "render the Federal Constitution adequate 
to the exigencies of government and the preservation of 
the Union." This convention was to meet in Philadelphia 
on the second Monday of May next. The General Court 
appointed Francis Dana, Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gor- 
ham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong as delegates from 
Massachusetts. 

At this juncture, the late requisition of Congress, Aug, 
2, 1786, for $3,777,062, called on our Commonwealth to 
pay its proportion, which was $324,746. The murmurs of 
the people, under what they deemed excessive taxation, 
became loud and emphatic. There were those who were 
ready to rise in rebellion against the government, and 
throw the whole fabric of American liberty in ruins'. This 
suicidal sophistry found its advocate in Shays, who put 
himself at the head of a military force of eleven hundred 
men. The governor of Massachusetts ordered out four 
thousand four hundred troops of militia and four com- 
panies of artillery, who, under Gen. Lincoln, marched 
to Worcester, Jan. 22. Gen. Shepherd took possession 
of the arsenal at Springfield, and, on the 25th of that 
month, encountered Shays, and soon scattered his ad- 
herents to the four winds, leaving upon the field three of 
them killed and one wounded. This base attempt to 
involve the country in civil war being thus promptly and 
totally crushed, while it united anew the friends of free- 
dom and order, put a final check to further insurrections. 
We have mentioned these facts to show the fidelity of our 
Medford patriots to the cause of their country ; for no 
sooner had this subversive movement been taken, than 
our town voted its entire disapprobation of the traitorous 
scheme, and offered to pay any soldiers who would volun- 
teer to put it down. Young men went, and they were 
paid accordingly. 



I/O HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

The Constitution of the United States was adopted by 
Massachusetts, Feb. 6, 1788, in its Legislature, by a vote 
of 187 yeas. There were 168 nays. 

This memorable instrument, which, among its other 
agencies, was to establish an equitable system of taxation, 
regulate trade, and secure property, was also to inaugurate 
order and peace, to foster commerce, encourage agricul- 
ture, and promote useful arts. Our ancestors felt satisfied 
with its provisions, and were not disappointed in its 
promises. 

At this time arose the two great parties, the "Federal- 
ists" and "Anti-Federalists ; " the one supporting and the 
other opposing our present Constitution. The name 
"Anti-Federalist" was soon dropped, and that of "Repub- 
lican " substituted. 

Provided with two Constitutions, one for their native 
State and the other for their country, the time had now 
arrived for the organization of a general government ; and 
the citizens of the United States collected in their several 
towns, and, for the first time, gave in their votes for a Presi- 
dent of the Republic. The ballot for electors was unani- 
mous, and stood thus in Medford, Dec. 18, 1788: — 

Hon. Judge Dana .... 25 | Gen. John Brooks .... 24 

The government of the country being now administered 
by President Washington with wisdom, power, and econ- 
omy, several years of quietness and prosperity gave rest 
to the public mind. Our town had little else to do than 
accord with the general acts of Congress. When the 
Father of his Country chose to decline a third election to 
the Presidency, the preference of our town for Mr. Adams, 
as his successor, was unequivocally shown ; and when 
this patriot stood candidate a second time, and was suc- 
cessfully opposed by Mr. Jefferson, Medford, Nov. 7, 1796, 
adhered to the son of Massachusetts, in a unanimous vote 
of 41, given for Benjamin Hall, as elector. 

The death of Gen. Washington in December, 1799, 
touched every American heart as a family bereavement. 
Its announcement struck the country as a paralytic shock, 
and each one felt as if his strength had been suddenly 
withdrawn. No sooner had the mournful tidings reached 
Medford, than the inhabitants came together, and Jan. 2, 
1800, expressed their sorrow at the sad event; resolving 
by vote, — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 171 

"That the town will pay suitable respect to the memory of the late 
Gen. George Washington ; and that a committee of eleven be chosen 
to make the proper arrangements." 

The following request was made by the committee, in 
the order of services which was printed and circulated 
in the town : — 

"I. At one o'clock, P.M., the stores and shops of the town to be 
shut. The bell is to toll from one o'clock till the procession shall 
arrive at the meeting-house. The inhabitants to assemble at Union 
Hall, with a black crape or ribbon upon the left arm, above the elbow, 
as mourning. The scholars of the town school to join the procession 
in a body. The procession to move at two o'clock, under the direc- 
tion of the Committee. 

" 3. Females, of all ages, are requested to wear black ribbons, and 
to be seated in the meeting-house before the arrival of the proces- 
sion 

"3. Male strangers are requested to join the procession. 

"4. After the procession is seated, music suited to the occasion. 

" 5. Prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Osgood. 

*' 6. Music. 

" 7. Eulogy, by the Hon. John Brooks, Esq. 

"8. Music. After which, the bell to toll till sunset." 

Every thing was thus done by the town which could 
express grief at the loss, or respect for the memory, of the 
venerated chief. Gen. John Brooks, the companion in 
arms of the illustrious warrior, and one of his favorite 
friends, was the person, of all others, to deliver the public 
eulogy ; and it was done on the 13th of January. On 
that day all business was suspended as on the sacred sab- 
bath, the shops closed, the flags at half-mast, the meeting- 
house robed in black, and every inhabitant dressed in 
mourning apparel ; and these badges were continued for 
thirty days. In forming the funeral procession, the chil- 
dren of the town preceded ; the military, with muffled 
drums, were in attendance as an escort ; and the officers 
of the town, the chaplain, and the orator were accom- 
panied by strangers of distinction. The meeting-house 
was crowded to its utmost capacity ; and the funeral 
music and impressive prayers were in proper keeping with 
the solemnities of the commemoration. The eulogy, pre- 
pared in a short time, was the outflowing of a warm and 
afflicted heart. It was written in plain, strong language, 
and narrated, with lucid order, the prominent facts in 
Washington's life, and the salient features of his char- 
acter, it was printed with the following title-page : — 



172 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

"An Eulogy on General Washington, delivered before the in- 
habitants of the town of Medford, agreeably to their vote, and at the 
request of their Committee, on the 13th of January, 1800. Bv John 
Brooks, A.M., M.IVI.S., and A.A.S. Printed by Samuel Hall, No. 53 
Cornhill, Boston." 

The Rev. Dr. Osgood preached an appropriate sermon 
to his people on the great subject ; the town voted to 
print it, and to append to it Washington's " Farewell 
Address," and then to give a copy to each family. When 
Feb. 22 arrived, the meeting-house in Medford was open 
for religious exercises, and the day was kept as sacred. 

During the presidential canvass in 1800, party lines be- 
gan to assume dcfiniteness; and that great contest of par- 
ties arose, which, although we are sometimes disposed to 
resent it as a disturbing influence in our lives, is, after all, 
the best safeguard of our liberties. In their political 
action, the people of Medford have, from the organization 
of the government, been in thorough sympathy with Mas- 
sachusetts ideas, and with the policy founded upon them. 
They have always taken an active and intelligent interest 
in the great questions which have agitated the country ; 
and, although political feeling has sometimes run high, it 
has been kept within the bounds of legitimate expression. 
To the honor of the town it may be said, that during the 
fiercest contentions of political parties, at their caucuses 
and at the polls, there have never been instances of vio- 
lence, menace, or corruption. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 173 



CHAPTER VI. 

MILITARY HISTORY. 

The life of the New-England colonists was beset with 
dangers, and was disturbed by continually recurring war- 
fare. They were liable to attacks from the Indians who 
surrounded them, and, from time to time, were exposed to 
incursions by the hostile French from the North, sup- 
ported by their savage allies. They had also to take their 
part in offensive warfare ; and the resources of the col- 
onists, in men and money, were heavily taxed to raise 
armies for that purpose. 

In 1630 the first tax levied on the inhabitants of 
Medford was in the sum of £,^, for the payment of two 
instructors in military tactics, — a prophetic beginning. 
Every man became by necessity a soldier, and was ex- 
pected to stand ready for effective service. 

The legal equipment of a soldier was as follows : — 

"A musket (firelock or matchlock), a pair of bandoleers, a powder- 
pouch, with bullets, a sword, a belt, a worm, a scourer, a rest, and a 
knapsack. His pay, \%s. a month, and diet, and pillage; and his 
town to provide him with a month's provisions ; viz., thirty pounds 
of biscuits, twelve of pork, twenty of beef, and one half-bushel of 
pease or meal. The leader was to receive \os. per month. The 
towns were to bear their share of the loss of arms. A list of the 
men and their arms was to be handed in to the court." 

The bandoleer was a shoulder-belt, used for supporting 
the gun and other heavy equipments. The firelock had 
a flint-lock ; the matchlock was discharged by the appli- 
cation of a lighted match, or fuse. 

It will give us some idea of the military habits and 
customs of the people when we read the following law, 
passed July 26, 1631, and the records of subsequent regu- 
lations : — 

" Ordered that everv first Friday in every month, there shall be 
a general training of them that inhabit Ch'arlestown, Mistick, and 



174 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

the Newtown, at a convenient place about the Indian wigwams; the 
training to begin at one of the clock in the afternoon." 

"March 22, 1631 : General Court. Ordered that every town with- 
in this jurisdiction shall, before the 5th of April next, take especial 
care that every person within their town (except magistrates and min- 
isters), as well servants as others, be furnished with good and suffi- 
cient arms." 

"Aug. 7, 1632: It is ordered that the captains shall be maintained 
(on parade days) by their several companies." 

"March 4, 1635: It is ordered that from this day forward the 
captains shall receive maintenance out of the treasury, and not from 
their companies." 

In 1635 the men of Medford, Cambridge, and Charles- 
town, formed one company. 

" Nov. 20, 1637 : It was ordered that training should be kept eight 
times in a year, at the discretion of the chief officers. Magistrates 
and teaching elders are allowed each of them a man free from 
trainings; and the deacons of the several churches are freed in like 
manner." 

At this early period none were allowed to vote for mili- 
tary officers, except freemen and they "who have taken 
the oath of residents." Freemen had a right to vote in 
these elections, although they were not enrolled as mem- 
bers of the trainband. Officers must be freemen, since 
none others were eligible to offices in the State, 

The captain was required to take oath. The fines 
gathered were to be expended in buying drum-heads for 
the company and arms for poor men. Ship-carpenters, 
fishermen, and millers were excused from training. Mill- 
ers were excused, because, in tending tide-mills, they 
were often obliged to be at work through the night. 

The regulations of the town were very strict in all mat- 
ters that related to the public safety ; and we find among 
the ancient records, the following statements of precau- 
tionary measures adopted in those times: — 

" March 9, 1637: This day certain persons were appointed in 
Medford, as watchers of the Indians and wild beasts. 

" All watchers shall come to the public assemblies with their mus- 
kets fit for service." 

" No person shall travel above one mile from his dwelling-house 
without some arms, upon pain of \zd. for every default." 

In 1637 two hundred men, as soldiers, were to be 
raised in Massachusetts. The following towns furnished 
numbers in proportion to their population: Boston, 26\ 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 1 75 

Salem, 18; Saugus, 16; Ipswich, 17; Newbury, 8; Rox- 
bury, 10; Hingham, 6; Meclford, 3. 

May 14: "Ordered that there shall be a watch of two a night 
kept in every plantation till the next general court." 

June 2, 1641 : "Ordered that all the out-towns shall each of them 
have a barrel of gunpowder." 

Sept. 15, 1641 : On this day began a "muster," which 
lasted two days ; twelve hundred soldiers. And though 
there was "plenty of wine and strong beer," yet "no 
man was drunk, no oath was sworn, no quarrel, no hurt 
done." 

Sept. 7, 1643: The General Court thus say: — 

" It is agreed that the military commanders shall take order that 
the companies be trained, and some man, to be appointed by them, 
in each town, to exercise them." 

" Arms must be kept in every family." 

These warlike preparations show the dangerous sur- 
roundings of the early settlers : and they must have con- 
sidered themselves not only members of the Church 
militant, but citizens of the State militant. This is still 
more clearly shown by subsequent orders, among which 
were the following : — 

"May 14, 1645: Ordered that all children within this jurisdiction, 
from ten to sixteen years of age, shall be instructed by some one of 
the officers of the band, or some other experienced soldier, whom the 
chief officer shall appoint upon the usual training-days, in the exer- 
cise of arms, as, small guns, half-pikes, bows and arrows, according 
to the discretion of said officer." 

1647 : " Persons unable to provide arms and equipments for militia 
duty on account of poverty, if he be single, and under thirty years of 
age, shall be put to service, and earn them. Musqueteers, among 
their articles of equipment, are to have two fathoms of match." 

"Whoever refuses to do duty, when commanded, shall be fined 
five shillings." 

May 2, 1649: The General Court issue the following : — 

"It is ordered that the selectmen of every town within this jurisdic- 
tion shall, before the 24th of June, which shall be in the year 1650, 
provide for every fifty soldiers in each town a barrel of good powder, 
one hundred and fifty pounds of musket bullets, and one-quarter of 
a hundred of match." 

May 26, 1658 : The General Court say, — 

" In answer to the request of the inhabitants of Meadford, the Court 
judgeth it meet to grant their desire ; i. e., liberty to list themselves 



1/6 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

in the trainband of Cambridge, and be no longer compelled to travel 
unto Ciiarlestown." 

As several of Mr. Cradock's men were fined at different 
times for absence from training, we infer that the military 
exercises required by law were very strictly observed in 
Medford ; and how it could have been otherwise, after so 
many special laws and regulations, we do not see. It 
seemed a first necessity of their forest-life, to protect 
themselves from the wily Indian and the hungry bear. 
These military preparations were not suspended for a cen- 
tury. As late as Aug. 4, 17 18, the inhabitants of Medford 
voted ;£io to buy powder for their defence against the 
Indians. 

" Every person enlistins: in the troop is required to have a good 
horse, and be well fitted with saddle, etc.; and, having listed his horse, 
he shall not put him off without the consent of his captain." 

The powder and balls belonging to the town were not 
deposited always in the same place; and, March 3, 1746, 
"Voted that Capt. Samuel Brooks shall have the keeping 
of the town's stock of ammunition." 

1668 : This year the Court took a step which was not 
popular. They resolved to exercise the power which they 
thought they possessed ; viz., of nominating all the military 
officers. The taking aw^ay of "so considerable a part of 
their so-long-enjoyed liberty" met with decided opposi- 
tion'; and, when our Medford company was organized, the 
town did not allow the Court to nominate the officers. 

Up to this time, we hear little of "musters;" and we 
presume that large assemblies of soldiers at one place 
were not common. The military organization must neces- 
sarily have been very simple and limited at first ; and the 
idea of "divisions," "battalions," "regiments," as with us, 
must have been of a much later period. 

One fact, however, is clear; and that is, that these habit- 
ual preparations for defence and war gradually educated 
the colonists to that personal courage and military skill 
which rendered them so powerful in their war with Philip, 
and thus prepared them for achieving the victories of the 
Revolution. 

This deep interest in military affairs made our fore- 
fathers wakcfully anxious on the subject of the election of 
officers in the trainbands. It was an event in which every 
person in town, male and female, felt that his or her safety 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 177 

might be deeply concerned. The law carefully guarded! 
the rights of the people in this act; and, therefore, did not 
leave so important a trust to be conferred by the members, 
of the company alone, but made it the duty of the whole 
town to choose the three commanding officers. On the 
first occasion when this power was to be exercised by 
the whole town, the selectmen issued a warrant for a meet- 
ing of all the inhabitants who had a right to vote. The 
warrant was dated May 18, 1781, and was issued "in the 
name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the pur- 
pose of choosing militia officers, as set forth in the Militia 
Act." This was the sole business of the meeting. The 
result was as follows : — 

Caleb Brooks Captain. 

Stephen Hall, 4th ist Lieutenant. 

Daniel Tufts 2d Lieutenant. 

Here appears the great democratic principle of popular 
election of military leaders, wherein the majority of voters 
decide the whole case. 

It was customary for the newly elected officer not only 
to "treat the company," but to treat everybody else who 
repaired to his house at the appointed time. These were 
deemed the occasions in which freedom was liberally inter- 
preted. Meat and bread w^ere provided for food ; but 
punch and flip were furnished in such overflowing abun- 
dance, that some visitors took many more steps in going 
home than in coming. It was expected, moreover, that 
the captain would treat his soldiers on parade-days. This 
item, added to other necessary expenses, made quite a, 
draught on the chief officer's purse, as well as time. 

Although we have recorded the organization of a mili- 
tary corps in 1781, whose officers were chosen by the 
town, according to the laws then existing, there were sol- 
diers in Medford from 1630 to that time. What the exact 
rules and regulations respecting enlistment were in the 
middle of the seventeenth century, we cannot discover. 
There were composition companies ; and the associations 
were often accidental, according to contiguity of place. 
They in Medford, who were "watchers," were soldiers; 
and the annual provision of town powder shows that the 
ammunition was used. There was a company of militia in 
Medford before the Revolution ; and, when troublesome 
times came, they were ready for duty. It was the eighth 



178 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

company in the first regiment of the first brip:ade of the 
third division. Seth Bullard was captain, William Bur- 
beck first lieutenant, and Ezekiel Plympton second lieu- 
itenant. It belonged to Col. Thomas Gardner's regiment, 
iin 1775 it was commanded by Capt. Isaac Hall. "This 
'•company came out," says the adjutant-general, "on the 
:19th of April, 1775, and were in service five days, and 
'were undoubtedly in the battles of Lexington and Con- 
<cord." The names of the men composing the company 
>on that memorable occasion are all recorded on the mus- 
^ter-roll; and they were all Medford men, as follows ; — 

Isaac Hall, captain; Caleb Brooks, lieutenant; Steplien Hall, 
•ensign; Thomas Pritchard, Isaac Tufts, and Moses Hail, serge:ints; 
John Tufts, Gersham Teel, and Jonathan Greenleaf, corporals; Tim- 
■■othy Hall, drummer; William Earning, fifer. Privates as follows: 
David Vinton, John Bucknim, Isaac Watson, Jonatiian Lawrence, 
Jonathan Davis, Abel Richardson, James Tufts, jun., Samuel Tufts, 
3d, Andrew Floyd, Benjamin Floyd, Andrew Blanchard, Samuel Tufts, 
John Francis, jun., Paul Dexter, 'John Smith, Abel Butterfield, Josiah 
•Cutter, John Kemp, Eleazer Putnam, James Bucknam, jun., Aaron 
-Crowell, Jonathan Tufts, Benjamin Peirce, Thomas Wakefield, Jona- 
:.than Teel, Aaron Blanchard, Richard Cole, William Binford, Thomas 
Bradshaw, Daniel Tufts, Peter Tufts, jun, Ebenezer Tufts, Isaac 
'Cooch, Daniel Conery, Richard Paine, William Polly, Peter Conery, 
David Hadley, Jacob Bedin, Joseph Clefton, Samuel Hadley, jun., 
Moses Hadley, John Callender, John Clarke, Andrew Bradshaw, 
Thomas Savels, Francis Hall, and Benjamin Savils. 

Here are fifty-nine Medford men in actual service : each 
man received pay for five days' service, and the State paid 
them in all £2^. \6s. ^d. 

Capt. Isaac Hall made a report of his company to the 
heads of the department, Oct. 6, 1775, then stationed on 
Prospect Hill. He resigned, before the end of the year, 
for the purpose of taking command of another company; 
and Lieut. Caleb Brooks was chosen captain in his stead, 
and, as such, made a report, Jan. 3, 1776. 

The new corps which Capt. Isaac Hall commanded "was 
made up of men from Medford, Charlestown, Woburn, 
Maiden, Cambridge, and Stoneham, and were called the 
eight months menr They enlisted for that time ; and, in 
addition to their pay, each one was to have a coat at the 
expiration of his enlistment. Eight of this company be- 
longed to Medford ; and they were the following : Isaac 
Hall, captain ; Caleb Brooks, lieutenant. The privates 
were: Benjamin Floyd, James Wyman, Jonah Cutler, John 
Smith, William Bucknam, and Joseph Bond. The last 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 79 

named was discharged June 7, 1775 ; the rest served out 
the eight months, and were on the "coat roll," so called, — 
which fact secured a pension from the United States. 
Some took money instead of a coat. Some time after- 
wards, Capt. Hall testified that Samuel Ingalls, one of his 
company, "has bin imprizoned in Cannedy, and hain't 
receeved no coat." This company was ordered by Gen. 
Washington, in March, 1776, to be "marched from Med- 
ford to the Heights in Dorchester." They were in service 
only four days. 

Besides Col. John Brooks, whose career has already 
been recorded, several sons of Medford acquitted them- 
selves with honor in the Revolutionary War. 

Col. Ebenezer Francis, son of Ebenezer Francis, was 
born in Medford, Dec. 22, 1743. Living in Medford till 
his majority, he was studious to gain knowledge, and suc- 
ceeded beyond most others. He moved to Beverly, and, 
in 1766, married Miss Judith Wood, by whom he had four 
daughters and one son. He was commissioned as captain 
by the Continental Congress, July i, 1775; the next year 
he rose to the rank of colonel, and commanded a regiment 
on Dorchester Heights from August to December, 1776. 
Authorized by Congress, he raised the Eleventh Massachu- 
setts Regiment, and in January, 1777, marched at the head 
of it to Ticonderoga. Monday, July 7, 1777, a skirmish 
took place between the Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment 
and the British, at Hubbardton, near Whitehall, N.Y., in 
which Col. F'rancis fell. A private journal of Capt. Green- 
leaf, now in the library of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, says, — 

"Col. Francis first received a ball through his right arm; but still 
continued at the head of his troops till he received the fatal wound 
through his body, entering his right breast. He dropped on his face." 

His chaplain says : — 

" No officer so noticed for his military accomplishments and regu- 
lar life as he. His conduct in the field is spoken of in the highest 
terms of applause." 

A British of^cer, who was in the battle of Hubbardton, 
happened to be quartered as a prisoner in Medford. He 
wrote a history of that battle ; and we make the following 
extracts, which relate to a Medford mother then living in 
her house at the West End. The ofBcer says, — 



l8o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

" A few davs since, walking out with some officers, we stopped at a 
house to puichase vegetables. While the other officers were bargain- 
ing with the woman of the house, I observed an elderly woman sit- 
ting by the fire, who was continually eying us, and every now and 
then sliedding a tear. Just as we were quitting the house, she got 
up, and, bursting into tears, said, 'Gentlemen, will you let a poor dis- 
tracted woman speak a word to )0u before you go ? ' We, as you 
must naturally imagine, were all astonished; and, upon inquiring what 
she wanted, with the most poignant grief, and sobbing as if her heart 
was on the point of breaking, asked if any of us knew her son, who 
was killed at the battle of Hubbardton, a Col. Francis. Several of us 
informed her that we had seen him after he was dead. She then in- 
quired about his pocket-book, and if any of his papers were safe, as 
some related to his estates, and if any of the soldiers had got his 
watch ; if she could but obtain that, in remembrance of her dear, dear 
son, she should be happy. Capt. Fergurson, of our regiment, who was 
of the party, told her, as to the colonel's papers and pocket-book, he 
was fearful lest they were lost or destroyed; but, pulling a watch 
from his fob, said, ' There, good woman ; if that can make you happy, 
take it, and God bless you.' We were all much surprised, and un- 
acquainted that he had made a purchase of it from a drum-boy. On 
seeing her son's watch, it is impossible to describe the joy and grief 
that were depicted in her countenance. I never, in all my life, beheld 
such a strength of passion. She kissed it, looked unutterable grati- 
tude at Capt^ Fergurson, then kissed it again. Her feelings were in- 
expressible : she "knew not how to utter or show them. She would 
repay his kindness by kindness, but could only sob her thanks. Our 
feelings were lifted to an inexpressible height: we promised to send 
after the papers ; and I believe, at that moment, could have hazarded 
life itself to procure them." 

John Francis, a brother of the colonel, born in Med- 
ford, Sept. 28, 1753, was adjutant in the regiment com- 
manded by his brother, and fought bravely at Hubbard- 
ton. He was in several battles during the six years of 
his service, and at the capture of Burgoyne was wounded. 
He died July 30, 1822, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, 
in Beverly, the place of his residence. He was esteemed 
for his hospitality and cheerfulness. 

A gallant action by a Medford sergeant, in the heat 
of the battle at White Plain, deserves a special record. 
Francis Tufts saw the standard-bearer fall : he flew to the 
spot, seized the standard, lifted it in the air, and rushed 
to the front rank of the line, and there marched forward, 
calling upon the men to follow. This was seen by Gen. 
Washington. As soon as victory was won, the general 
asked Col. Brooks tlie name of the young man in his 
regiment who achieved that noble act. He was told; and 
there, on the stump of a tree, the general immediately 
wrote his commission of adjutant. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. l8l 

A military manoeuvre designed and executed by Capt. 
Thomas Pritchard of Medford, while in command at New 
York, deserves honorable mention. The English had taken 
possession of the city, Sept. 15, 1776, but were greatly 
annoyed by the American forces in its neighborhood. 
Capt. Pritchard was personally known to some of the British 
officers, and he was remarkable for his celerity and skill 
in the war tactics. One day he had been making ex- 
plorations with his company, when he came unexpectedly 
among a large force of British cavalry in a road. The 
English commander cried out to him, " Well, Pritchard, 
we've got you at last." — "Not exactly," replied Pritchard; 
and he immediately ordered his men to form across the 
road, and to prepare for a charge. The cavalry stopped. 
The wind was favorable to carry the smoke of Pritch- 
ard's fire directly among the enemy. The English com- 
mander felt that there must be great loss to him if he 
should open a fire, owing to the narrow defile and the ad- 
verse wind. He therefore stood still. To retreat, and 
also to gain time, was Pritchard's policy; and he accom- 
plished it thus : he walked behind his men, and touched 
every other one in the whole line, and then ordered those 
that he touched to retreat backwards twenty steps. They 
did so, and there halted. This position kept each of his 
men in a fit order to fire or to charge, as might be neces- 
sary. As soon as this half had halted, he ordered the re- 
maining half to retreat slowly in the same way, to pass 
through the line, and retreat twenty steps behind the front 
rank. They did so successfully. The cavalry rushed for- 
ward, but did not fire. Pritchard's men understood the 
movement, and were not terrified at superior numbers. 
They continued to retreat in this unassailable and Amer- 
ican fashion for nearly an hour, when the narrow road ended 
in a broken, rocky pasture. Now their destruction seemed 
certain. Capt. Pritchard saw near him a ledge of rocks 
and a narrow pass. He resolved to get there if he could. 
But how could it be done ? The enemy had now come 
out, and nearly surrounded him. He formed his men into 
a hollow square, and ordered them to retreat sideways 
towards that narrow pass. They did so, each keeping his 
place, and presenting his bayonet to the foe. They 
reached the rock, and there they must stop. With their 
backs to the precipice, and their face to the enemy, they 
must now surrender or die. They had resolved to try the 



1 82 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

chances of battle. The British had now come round 
them in such overwhelming; numbers, that they felt des- 
perate. Just as the Britisli officer had ordered them to 
surrender, a detachment of American troops came sud- 
denly upon them. The cavalry saw they themselves must 
be taken, and they turned and fled. 

Major Brooks narrated to Gen. Washington every par- 
ticular of this successful stratagem ; and Washington 
said, "There is nothing in our military history that sur- 
passes the ingenuity and fortitude of that manoeuvre." 
Capt. Pritchard was very young, and a great favorite in 
the army; and, when it became his turn to watch through 
the night, it was a common saying among the officers, 
"We can sleep soundly to-night; Pritchard's out." 

He returned to Medford after the war, resumed his 
trade of cooper, and died, June 8, 179S, aged forty-three. 

THE WAR OF 1812. 

Medford furnished its full quota of soldiers for the war 
of 1812, and shed its blood in sustaining the national 
cause. The following are the names of those who volun- 
teered enlistment : John Gates, Zachariah Shed, Edmund 
Gates, Amos Hadley, Thomas Cutter, Jacob Waite, Sam- 
uel F. Jordan, Jonathan Tufts^ jnn., Randolph Richardson, 
Rehoboam Richardson, Miles Wilson, Joseph Peirce, John 
Lee, John Weatherspoon, John McClough, Stephen D. 
Bugsby, Robert Hall, Benjamin Symmes. 

P^dmund Gates was killed in the battle of Chippewa ; 
and Abiel R. Shed was killed in the sortie of Fort Erie, 

1813. 

One of the most signal sacrifices made by Medford to 
the cause of the country, in that war, was the death of 
Lieut. John Brooks, son of Gen. Brooks, who graduated 
at Harvard College in 1805, studied medicine with his 
father, and afterwards joined the army as an officer of 
marines. The personal beauty of young Brooks was a 
matter of remark in every company where he appeared. 
His courage was great ; and by exposing himself in the 
hottest struggle of the fight, he was instantly killed by 
a cannon-ball, which struck him near the hip, and man- 
gled him shockingly. This occurred in the famed battle 
on Lake Erie, Sept. 13, 181 3, when Commodore Perry 
gained his brilliant victory over the English fleet. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. I 83 

The remains of Lieut. Brooks were buried on an island 
in Lake Erie, and there remained until November, 18 17, 
when they were removed to Fort Shelby, in the city of 
Detroit, Mich. The "Detroit Gazette" of Nov. 7, 18 17, 
has the following notice of the removal : — 

'■'■ Fune7-al of Lietit. John Brooks. — On Friday last the remains 
of Lieut. John Brooks, who fell in the battle on Lake Erie, were in- 
terred in the new burial-ground upon the glacis of Fort Shelbv, 
within the Military Reserve of this city. The ceremony was attended 
with military honors suited to the rank of the deceased. 

" The body was escorted by a military corps, and preceded by the 
Rev. Messrs. Montieth and Larned. The pall was supported by six 
lieutenants, with scarfs. Lieut.-Col. Smith, and the officers of the 
Fifth United States Regiment, followed as mourners, flanked by 
marshals. Then succeeded Major-Gen. Macomb, Gov. Cass, and the 
civil, judicial, and municipal officers of the territory and city, citi- 
zens and strangers, and the non-commissioned officers and soldiers 
of the army. The funeral service was performed by the Rev. Mr. 
Larned. The procession was solemn and sublime." 

These services show the high esteem in which the 
brave and beautiful young officer was held by his com- 
rades and commanders. 

Among the brave who served in this war, there were 
none braver than Col. Alexander Scammel Brooks, eldest 
son of Gen. John Brooks. He was born in Medford, 1777, 
on the day of Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. He 
entered Harvard College in 1798, and left it in 180 1. He 
preferred a sailor's life; but, when the embargo of 1808 
was laid, he obtained a commission in the army, and held 
it till that restriction on commerce was removed. He 
then resumed marine life, and continued in it till the 
war of 1812, when he again received a commission as cap- 
tain in the United-States Army, and served through the 
war. So gallant was his conduct at the battle of Platts- 
burg, that he received a brevet as major. He was re- 
tained in the army on the peace establishment, and com- 
manded posts on the seaboard. In May, 181 7, he married 
Miss Sarah Turner. In 1820 he was ordered to the com- 
mand of Portland Harbor, where he remained seven years; 
thence to Bellona Arsenal, on James River, Va., where 
he remained foin- years ; thence to Fort Independence, 
in Boston Harbor. He next came to Medford, and re- 
sided in the house of his late father till ordered to the 
command of the New-York Harbor. In May, 1836, he 
was ordered, with his command, into the Cherokee coun- 



1 84 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

try, to move the Indians. That duty performed, he went 
to Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, S C. Here he soon 
received orders to proceed immediately to Florida, and 
take command of the regiment of which he was lieutenant- 
colonel, and prosecute- the war against the Indians. He 
had a singular and unconquerable dislike of travelling by 
steam-power: but here was a necessity; and, almost for 
the first time in his life, he ventured on board a steam- 
boat, the " Dolphin," bound for the Black Creek, and was 
killed by the explosion of the boilers of the steamer, Dec. 
17, 1836. 

MEDFORD MILITIA. 

The militia, whose trainings we of latter days have 
witnessed, is mentioned for the first time in the " First 
Roster," in 1787; but in the earlier and more confused 
records, there is recognition of a Medford company m 
1 78 1. The commanders of the company were as fol- 
lows: — 

Moses Hall chosen captain . . Jan. 

Samuel' Teel March 

Abijah Usher May 

Gardner Greenleaf Oct. 

Samuel Newell April 

Nathan Adams April 

Samuel Thompson April 

Until this time, this company had belonged to the first 
regiment of the first brigade of the third division ; but 
now a new regiment, the fifth, was formed, and Medford, 
Charlestown, and Maiden composed it. The next cap- 
tain of the Medford company was Rufus Frost, chosen 
May 12, 1806. He resigned, and was discharged March 
10, 1 8 10. He was re-elected April 3, 18 10, but he "re- 
fused to qualify." The next captains were : — 

Henry Reed chosen .... July 2, iSio. 

Daniel Copeland Feb. 27, 1812. 

Henry Todd April 2, 1816. 

Galen James March 16, 1818. 

Moses Merrill April 14, 1820. 

John T. White May 4, 1824. 

John Sparrell Aug. 6, 1827. 

William L. Barker July 29, 1830. 

Joshua T. Foster May 6, 1834. 

L. O. Chase May 3, 1836. 



12, 


r787. 


29, 


1788. 


26, 


I79^^ 


23, 


1798. 


17. 


1801. 


26, 


1802. 


3? 


1804. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 85 



THE OLD MEDFORD LIGHT INFANTRY. 

The members of this company petitioned the Governor 
and Council to be organized as an independent corps, 
under the law of Nov. 29, 1785. As that law was very- 
peculiar, and gave rights seemingly at variance to general 
military usage, it may be worth while to extract the two 
sections which contain the extraordinary provisions. They 
are as follows : — 

'■'■Be it therefore enacted, by the authority aforesaid. That when 
any Major-General, commander of a division of militia in this Com- 
monwealth, shall certify to the Governor, that, in his opinion, it will 
be expedient, and for the good of the Commonwealth, that one or 
more companies of cadets, or other corps, should be raised in his 
division, the Governor, with advice and consent of the Council, be, 
and he is hereby, authorized and empowered (if he judge expedient) 
to raise such cadet company, companies, or corps ; and, when any 
such company or corps shall be raised, they shall elect their officers 
in the same manner, and in the same proportion, as is provided for 
the election of officers of other companies and corps of militia in this 
Commonwealth ; and the officers so elected shall be commissioned 
by the Governor. Provided, always, that no such cadet company 
or corps shall be raised in any of said divisions, when, by means 
thereof, any of the standing companies within the same would be 
reduced to a less number than sixty privates. 

^^ And be it further enacted, by the autJtoriiy aforesaid. That the 
said companies or corps, when raised and organized, shall be under 
the command of the major-general of the division in which they 
shall be respectively formed, and shall be subject to the rules and 
regulations that are already, or may hereafter be, provided by the 
Legislature, or the commander-in-chief of the militia of this Com- 
monwealth, for the general government of the militia." 

It will be observed, that these companies might be 
raised by the recommendation of the major-general, and 
the officers and members composing them may be scat- 
tered in the different towns within the division. Cases 
occurred where the three superior officers lived in sepa- 
rate towns. On this account, these corps were called 
divisionary companies. Another peculiarity was, that they 
were subject to the order of the major-general alone, and 
were never commanded by a brigadier-general. They 
never were attached to any brigade, but took the place 
of a brigade ; and on the field, at a general review, they 
took the right, because they were commanded only by the 
major-general. This right, or assumption, often caused 
trouble on great muster-days ; and once, when the briga- 
adier-general ordered the Medford Light Infantry to take 



1 86 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

the left, the captain marched his company off the field, 
and returned to Medford without being reviewed. They 
maintained their cause, and never yielded their priority. 
The Weston Infantry was organized under the same law, 
but always gave precedence to the Medford company on 
account of its greater age. 

When Gen. Washington made his visit at Cambridge, 
in 1789, he was attracted by the superior appearance of 
the Aledford company on parade, and took great pains to 
ask Gen. Brooks what corps it was, and passed a high 
compliment on it. 

There were many companies organized in the Common- 
wealth under the law ; some artillery, some cavalry, but 
generally infantry. On general-review days, the major- 
general and his staff would ride and stop in front of a bri- 
gade, and there go through with their examinations and 
reviews : when they came to the Medford Light Infantry, 
they would all stop, and go through the same examina- 
tions and reviews which belonged to a brigade. This was 
any thing but agreeable to the reviewing offtcers, and to 
the soldiers of the regular brigades. Few only of these 
companies remain in commission. The Boston and Salem 
Cadets are yet flourishing. In 1840 the question of the 
companies, organized under the law of 1785, taking the 
right of brigades, came up again, and was decided against 
the divisionary corps; and they are now "subject to the 
rules and regulations that are already provided for the 
general government of the militia." 

Major-Gen. Brooks certified to the Governor, in 1786, 
that he thought it expedient that a divisionary corps 
should be raised in his division ; and, as the Medford 
Light Infantry had united in petitioning for organization, 
the petition was granted, and the organization took place 
Nov. 29, 1786. The choice of officers on that day re- 
sulted as follows : — 

Epliraim Hall Captain. 

Francis Hall Captain's Lieutenant. 

Samuel Buel Lieutenant. 

The office of ensign was not deemed indispensable; and 
none was chosen till May 3, 1791, when J. Bucknam was 
elected. The names of the commanders of this long- 
respected and efficient company are as follows : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 187 

Ephraim Hall (promoted to an aide-de-camp in 1790) 1786 to 1790. 

Name unknown 1790 to 1798. 

Andrew Hall 1798 to 1803. 

Ebenezer Hall, jun 1803 to 1S06. 

Nehemiah Wyman, of Charlestown 1806 to 1808. 

Caleb Blanchard 1808 to 1809. 

John Cutter 1809 to 1811. 

Ephraim Bailey 181 1 to i8r4. 

J. P. Clisby 1814 to 1815. 

Thomas Shed 1815 to 1S18. 

Gersham Cutter 18 18 to 1821. 

John P. Bigelow 1 821 to 1823. 

Martin Burrage 1823 to 1824. 

Edmund Symmes 1824 to 1827. 

On the nth of January, 1828, it resigned its charter, 
and has never been revived. For the first twenty-five 
years of its existence, this company stood among the first 
for celerity and grace of drill-exercise and martial manoeu- 
vre. It felt that it had a sort of brigade character to sus- 
tain ; and the ambitious young men of Medford joined 
heartily to make it the banner corps of the county. 

In the war of 18 12 this company was called to guard 
the powder-house, and did duty there for some weeks. 
The zeal for military display declined after 18 14, and 
there was only an annual training for keeping up the show 
of warlike preparation. 

In 1828, when the Medford Light Infantry had resigned 
its charter, Capt. John Sparrell was ordered to enroll its 
members in his company of militia. He did so ; and, in 
that autumn, he appeared at a muster in Maiden with a 
hundred and ninety-six men, rank and file. 

March 7, 1831 : A hundred knapsacks were ordered by 
the town for the use of the militia. 

BROOKS PHALANX. 

Sept. 22, 1 841 : Fifty-two citizens of Medford petitioned 
the Governor for a charter to establish a company of vol- 
unteer militia, to be attached to the Fifth Regiment of 
infantry, in the first brigade and third division of Massa- 
chusetts militia. This petition was granted ; and the com- 
pany adopted the name of Brooks Phalanx, in honor of 
Gov. Brooks. 

Oct. 1 1, 1 841 : The following officers were chosen : — 

Samuel Blanchard Captain. 

H. N. Peak ist Lieutenant. 

Joseph W. Mitchell 2d Lieutenant. 

James B. Gregg 3d Lieutenant. 



1 88 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

A constitution and by-laws having been adopted, the 
first parade was on the 22d of August, and the company 
made a fine appearance. 

Aug. 21, 1843: The ladies of Medford presented the 
Phalanx with a beautiful standard. The ceremony took 
place before the meeting-house of the First Parish, and was 
worthy the occasion. 

Capt. Blanchard having been promoted to the office of 
lieutenant-colonel, he resigned his office as commander 
of the Phalanx; and Nov. 13, 1844, James W. Brooks was 
chosen as his successor. In 1846 Capt. Brooks was hon- 
orably discharged, and April 10 Charles Caldwell was 
elected captain. After serving acceptably, he resigned ; 
and May 9, 1849, Oilman Griffin was elected in his place. 
The last meeting held by the company was Dec. 18, 1849, 
when it was concluded to discontinue the organization, re- 
sign the charter, and return the standard to the ladies who 
gave it. The standard was kept for a time in the Town 
Hall. 

LAWRENCE LIGHT GUARD. 

This excellent corps, whose career has an historical in- 
terest, and reflects the highest honor on the town, was 
organized Oct. i, 1854, as Company E, Fifth Regiment, 
Massachusetts Light Infantry. Its first officers were as 
follows : Henry W. Usher, captain ; Asa Law, first lieuten- 
ant ; Thomas R. Hadley, second lieutenant ; Samuel C. 
Lawrence, third lieutenant ; and B. W. Parker, fourth 
lieutenant. Its rank and file numbered sixty men, all citi- 
zens of Medford. The company maintained a prosperous 
existence ; and Asa Law, Samuel C. Lawrence, and John 
Hutchins were its successive commanders down to the 
period of the civil war. 

In 1861 the events which furnish material for American 
history accumulated rapidly. Treason against the general 
government, long contemplated and well organized, was 
consummated in the attack on Fort Sumter, April 12. 
Three days after, President Lincoln issued a call for sev- 
enty-five thousand volunteers to defend the capital of the 
nation. The call awoke all the patriotism of the North, 
and the response was prompt and enthusiastic. Massa- 
chusetts was the first to move, and immediately com- 
menced sending her troops to the front. On the i8th of 
April, Col. Samuel C. Lawrence, commanding the Fifth 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



189 



Regiment, issued marching orders to his command. These 
were taken by his brother, Daniel W. Lawrence, Esq., to 
the commanders of the different companies, during the 
dark hours of the night before the 19th of April ; and it 
is a noticeable coincidence, that Mr. Lawrence's hurried 
journey followed the same roads taken by Paul Revere, 
just eighty-six years before, in his famous "midnight 
ride." The errands of the messengers were identical, 
and they were animated by an equally patriotic purpose. 
The next day the several companies of the regiment, in- 
cluding the Lawrence Light Guard, reported at Boston. 
It was an instance of extraordinary despatch. The men 
had no time to set their homes in order, and scant oppor- 
tunity to bid farewell to their families. 

The muster-roll of the company, as it left its armory 
to begin its service of three months, was as follows : — 



John Hutchins, captain. 

John G. Chambers, ist lieutenant. 

Perry Coleman, 2d lieutenant. 

William H. Pattee, 3d lieutenant. 

I. F. R. Hosea, ist sergeant. 

Samuel M. Stevens, sergeant. 

James A. Bailey, sergeant. 

William H. Lawrence, sergeant. 

Sanford IJooker, corporal. 

William J. Crooker, corporal. 

Benjamin Moore, corporal. 

Luther F. Brooks, corporal. 

Richard Pitts, musician. 

Alden, William F. 

Aldridge, William H. H. 

Austin, Ebenezer V. 

Bain, Martin V. B. 

Benhani, Daniel. 

Bisbee, Horatio, jun. 

Bishop, John. 

Booker, George D. 

Braden, Angus. 

Bragdon, Stephen M. 

Burbank, William H. 

Carr, John P. 

Carr, Royal 8. 

Clapp, Meltiah O. 

Currier, Sidney. 

Curtis, Frank J. 

Cushing, Henry H. D. 

Cushinsr, Pyam, jun. 

Dane, William H. 

Davis, Joseph. 

Davis, William L. 



Dede, Herman. 
Dow, Albert F. 
Duckerell, William J. 
Fames, John H. 
Emerson, William B. F 
Fletcher, Joel AL 
Fletcher, Stephen W. 
Fowler, Stephen D. 
Ginn, James F. 
Hadlev, Charles R. 
Haskell, Alfred. 
Hawkins, Henry M. 
Holman, Herbert A. 
Hoyt, John H. 
Ireland, Henry A., jun. 
Jacobs, Henry B. 
Keene, Lewis H. 
Kuhn, Charles H. 
Lawrence, Lemuel P. 
Lewis, Augustus B. 
Loring, Freeman A. 
Lord, Lewis P. 
Manning. James. 
Mills, Palemon C. 
Morrison, Isaac T. 
Palmer, Edward J. 
Peak, George E. 
Pearsons, Jonas M. 
Pierce, Elisha N. 
Prouty, William L. 
Ramsdell, Emery W. 
Reed, Henry F. 
Richards, Manville F. 
Richardson, Caleb T. 



1 90 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Robertson, Edwin H. 
Russell, Charles. 
Russell, Hubbard, jun. 
Sawyer, George. 
Sherman, Gilbert B. 
Smith, Jones L. 
Smith, Joseph. 
Taylor, James H. 



Teel, George M. 
Thorpe, Alfred M. 
Tufts, Augustus. 
Tupper, George F. 
Turner, James H. R. 
Turner, Samuel H. 
Usher, James F. 



The farewell and God-speed given to the Lawrence 
Light Guard, before they left Medford, should not be 
omitted from these pages. It was a sincere, hearty, and 
grand expression of the popular feeling, and all the more 
honorable to the company because it was an impromptu 
and spontaneous act. 

The people of the town, hearing that the Lawrence 
Light Guard were about to leave the peaceful homes and 
pursuits, and go forth to smite the hateful and traitorous 
Rebellion, hurried to the centre of the town, hoping to see 
them once more before they departed, and possiblv speak 
to them, or at any rate wave them a sad '■'■ good-by." But 
the gathering quickly took the form of solemn audience. 
The assembly was organized, the company was drawn up 
in a hollow square, and the brave men were duly and ten- 
derly commended to the loving care of the living God. 
This service was led by the local Methodist clergyman, 
Rev, Jarvis A. Ames ; and never was a more devout, ear- 
nest, patriotic, and Christian prayer sent up to the throne 
of God, than fell from the lips of that noble man. He 
seemed like one on whom the spirit of inspiration had 
fallen ; and while the tears of loving friends fell like rain, 
many a hearty " amen ! " was uttered by Christian men 
and women, who felt that God was listening to their ear- 
nest supplications. 

The service was brief, but touchingly beautiful ; and 
every soldier was cheered and strengthened by it, and felt 
as he marched away that he was led by One greater and 
more faithful than any earthly commander. 

The people of Medford were deeply moved on many 
occasions, when their neighbors and friends went to and 
returned home from the war; but never were they so 
touched by potencies that seemed divine, as when the Law- 
rence Light Guard went forth into our nation's second 
struggle tor freedom. Then the conviction was forced 
home upon them, that the war was actually begun. Then 
they began to realize the labors and sacrifices it would cost. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 19I 

The Fifth Regiment was quartered in Faneuil Hall 
until the morning of the 21st of April, when it left for 
New York, and from thence proceeded at once to Wash- 
ington, and became a part of the great force that rapidly 
accumulated at that place. It was mustered into the Fed- 
eral service for three months from the first day of May, and 
awaited further orders. During the second week in July, 
only a short time before its term of service was to expire, 
it was ordered into camp on the other side of the Potomac. 
The battle of Bull Run was then imminent, and on the 
2ist of July it occurred. The Light Guard of Medford, 
with its regiment, was in the disastrous fight, and suffered 
severely. Col. Lawrence was wounded in the side by a 
splinter from a shattered tree. Sergeant William H. Law- 
rence, color-bearer, was shot through the breast, while 
waving the flag in advance of the company. He had a 
strong premonition of the result of that battle to him 
personally, and said to a comrade on the previous day, 
" I shall surely be riddled to-morrow ;" yet that conviction 
did not make him hesitate in the performance of his duty. 
His heroism made him worthy to be the first Medford 
volunteer who gave his life to his country. 

In this battle. Corporal William J. Crooker received a 
scalp wound, and Private John H. Hoyt was taken prisoner. 

Ten days after, the Fifth Regiment was mustered out 

of the United-States service, and the Lawrence Light 

Guard returned to Medford. The record it had made, in 

the face of the enemy, was honorable ; and the town was 

I proud of its first contribution to the Union army. 

It was nearly a year from this time before Medford was 
called upon for another contribution of soldiers for the 
army. The early hopes of a speedy ending of the Rebel- 
lion were doomed to perish, and the country saw the wis- 
dom of the next great act of President Lincoln, in making 
a requisition upon the States for three hundred thousand 
men, for three years. Early in the month of July, 1862, 
the selectmen of the town received a general order, which 
called for eighty-eight volunteers from Medford "for three 
years, or the war ; " and, by direction of the Governor, 
they acted as recruiting-officers. They called to their 
assistance Messrs. Charles Currier and Daniel W. Law- 
rence ; and, after a bounty of seventy-five dollars to each 
volunteer had been voted by the town, an ineffectual 
attempt was made to meet the demands of the general 



192 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



order. Then, without delay, another town-meeting was 
called, at which, July 21, the bounty offered was increased 
to the sum of a hundred dollars. But the circumstances 
were not auspicious. Men were not anxious to volunteer 
at that uncertain and unpromising stage of the war; and 
on the 29th of that month, the selectmen addressed a 
communication to the Lawrence Light Guard, asking that 
company to step to the front once more, and thus enable 
the town to respond to the requisition of the General Gov- 
ernment. The company took no time to deliberate upon 
the matter, but opened their armory at once as a recruit- 
ing-office ; and the result was, that on the 14th of August, 
a full company of a hundred and one men, including a 
large number of the old members, were sworn into the 
service of the United States " for three years, or the war." 
The following is a roll of the members of the com- 
pany : — 



John Hutchins, captain. 
Perry Coleman, ist lieutenant. 
Isaac F. R. Hosea, 2d lieutenant. 
Samuel M. Stevens, 1st sergeant. 
Henry H. D. Gushing, sergeant. 
John H. Eames, sergeant. 
Albert F. Dow, sergeant. 
Samuel H. Turner, sergeant. 
Samuel G. Jepson, corporal. 
George D. Booker, corporal. 
Joel AI. Fletcher, corporal. 
William F. Alden, corporal. 
Henry A. Ireland, jun., corporal. 
Meltiah O. Clapp, corporal. 
Emery W. Ramsdell, corporal. 
Isaac T. Morrison, corporal. 
Charles E. Dyer, musician. 
Edwin F. Kenrick, musician. 
George W. Gage, wagoner. 
Charies Q. Allev. 
Charles H. Ballon. 
William .S. Barker, jun. 
David A. Barnard. 
George M. Baxter. 
John S. Beck. 
James Beirne. 
William H. Blanchard. 
Dudley Bond. 
Benjamin AI. Briggs. 
Benjamin Bunker, jun. 
Stephen Busha. 
Royal S. Carr. 



George H. Champlin. 
William J. Cheney. 
George A. Churchill. 
George L. Clapp. 
Charles H. Coolidge. 
Owen Coughlin. 
Edward Crockett, jun. 
Henry G Currell. 
Frank J. Curtis. 
Joseph AI. Cushing. 
Benjamin P. Cutter. 
Benjamin H. Dow. 
Henry L. Dusliuttle. 
Benjamin Ellis, jun. 
Hezekiah C. Ellis. 
Thomas M. Fletcher. 
Thomas H. Gillard. 
Anderson L. B. Gill. 
Patrick Gleason. 
Edward Goodale. 
William Harding. 
Elbridge Hartshorn. 
Charles H. Haskell. 
Edwin B. Hatch. 
Henr\- R. Hathaway. 
Nelson F. Hathaway. 
Rodnev C. Hathaway. 
Andrew J. Heath. 
James A. Hervev. 
Fred W. I). Hol'brook. 
Moses C. Hovt. 
Joseph 1^ Hubbell. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



I93j 



Edward Ireland. 
Edwin Ireland. 
Alfred Joyce. 
Samuel W. Joyce. 
Winslow Joyce. 
Henry S. Joyce. 
Coleman C. Kenrick. 
Otis V. Litchfield. 
Robert Livingston. 
John A. Maning. 
Bernard McNamara. 
Benjamin F. Merritt. 
Peter D. Meston. 
Thomas O. H. Mitchell. 
William H. Northey. 
Alvin W. Osborn. 
John L. Prouty. 
Wallace St. C. Redman. 
Charles A. Richardson. 



Franklin Richardson. 
Milton F. Roberts. 
William H. Rogers. 
George J. Rugg. 
Albert A. Samson. 
John H. Senter. 
John H. Simpson. 
William B. Southworth. 
James Thompson. 
Aaron Tucker. 
Augustus Tufts. 
Henry H. Tyler. 
William A. W^alker. 
Benjamin Walker. 
Henrv P. Wayland. 
Lemuel Webb. 
James L. W^hi taker. 
Jophanus H. Whitney. 



The day fixed upon for the departure of this company 
for camp was the 25th of August; and because of the 
patriotic and magnanimous response which its members 
had made to the call of the government, the citizens of 
the town felt called upon to give them a public expression 
of their admiration and gratitude. 

The farewell was simple, but deeply impressive. At an 
early hour a large number of men and women gathered in 
the square to receive the company when they should leave 
the armory ; and cheer upon cheer greeted the volunteers 
when they made their appearance. At the place appointed 
for the public services, prayer was offered by Rev. Edward 
C. Towne, after which Thomas S. Harlow, Esq., delivered 
an address, expressing the feelings of the citizens toward 
the men who, in the darkest hour of the Union cause, had 
the second time, for so long a term, tendered their services 
to the country. 

At one o'clock p.m., the guard, escorted by the town 
authorities, and a large procession of citizens, took up 
their line of march for the Maiden station of the Boston 
and Maine Railroad, and from thence took cars for their 
camp at Lynnfield. Later, while at camp in Boxford, the 
Thirty-ninth Regiment was organized ; and the Medford 
company (Company C), together with companies from 
Woburn, Roxbury, Taunton, Danvers, Natick, Somerville, 
Quincy, Dorchester, and the South Shore, made up the or- 
ganization, which was placed under the command of Col. 
P. S. Davis, an experienced officer of the State militia. 



.194 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Early in September the regiment was ordered to Wash- 
iington ; and, after a brief stay in the vicinity of that city, 
it was sent to Edwards Ferry, on the Maryland side of 
the Potomac River, and was kept on guard service along the 
river throughout the fall and winter, with winter quarters 
at Poolesville. In April it was ordered again to Washing- 
ton, where it rendered most efficient service as part of the 
provost-guard of the city, and attracted especial attention 
for the excellence of its discipline and drill. 

On the 9th of July, 1863, the demand for fresh troops 
at the front sent the Thirty-ninth Regiment to join the 
Army of the Potomac, which was then in the vicinity 
of Funkstown, Md., under the command of Gen. Meade. 
The regiment was attached to the third brigade, second 
division. First Army Corps. About this time Samuel 
W. Joyce, a member of Company C, died at Middle- 
burgh, and was buried there. 

The rest of the summer was passed in movements along 
the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. In the 
fall of that year the Mine Run campaign was opened, 
■ and Company C was the first company in the regiment 
that was placed under fire. On the 28th of November 
this company was on the line of skirmishers ; and Benja- 
min Dow, a Medford volunteer, was severely wounded. 

In December the regiment went into winter-quarters at 
Mitchell's Station, Va., and soon made for itself the neat- 
est and pleasantest camp in the Army of the Potomac. 
The status of the company, Jan. i, 1864, is given as 
follows : — 

Two sergeants, six corporals, two musicians, and thirty- 
one privates, present for duty ; one sergeant, two cor- 
porals, and sixteen privates, sick and absent ; Second 
Lieut. I. F. R. Hosea transferred to Company E, on de- 
tached service ; Captain absent and sick ; Lieut, C. W. 
Hanson temporarily in charge of the company. About 
that time Corporal Champlin died in the hospital. The 
company was kept so busy with picket and other detached 
services, that its representation at one of the dress parades 
consisted of an orderly sergeant and a single private. On 
the 25th of the next March the First Corps was merged 
into the Fifth Corps, and the regiment became a part 
of the first brigade, second division, and Fifth Army 
Corps ; and the next day they left their pleasant winter- 
quarters at Mitchell's Station, for a new camp about a 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 1 95 

mile beyond Cedar Run, and on May 3 advanced into 
that desolate section of country called the Wilderness. 
Two days later the series of terrible battles began. For 
the first three days of the conflict, Company C was not 
actually engaged in fight ; but on the fourth day, May the 
8th, it was in the hottest of the affray, fighting desper- 
ately, where success seemed almost hopeless. Corporal 
Simpson was badly wounded ; Sergeants Turner and Mor- 
rison slightly wounded ; Henry R. Hathaway, Alfred 
Joyce, and Stephen Busha were among the missing. The 
last named was never heard of afterwards. 

May 10 was a day of great slaughter. Sergeant Stevens, 
and Privates Beirne and Harding were instantly killed. 
The two latter were found with their faces literally torn 
off by a shell, but with their hands firmly grasping their 
muskets. 

On May 12, when the corps was near Spotsylvania, 
Edward Ireland was instantly killed, and Henry Ireland 
wounded in the arm. Shortly afterwards Robert Living- 
ston, another member of Company C, who was last seen 
on picket, was reported missing, and never returned. He 
was doubtless killed at his dangerous post of duty. 

By the middle of June the troops were moving in the 
direction of Petersburg and Richmond. 

The 17th of June was signalized by a severe conflict 
before Petersburg, an affair that marked the beginning 
of a protracted struggle in front of that well-nigh impreg- 
nable city. On the 6th of July, Col. P. S. Davis, beloved 
by all his command, and popular among his brother offi- 
cers, was killed by a shell, while sitting outside his tent, 
reading a letter from home. Every man of his regiment 
was filled with inexpressible sorrow by this event ; for he 
was not only an efficient officer, but an unselfish patriot, 
and a true Christian gentleman. His loss at that time, 
when the fortunes of the war were in the hands of such 
brave and skilful leaders as he represented, was felt to 
be a great calamity. 

In August the corps was stationed along the Weldon 
railroad, where it had previously been on duty ; and in a 
severe action on the 19th of August, several Medford 
men were taken prisoners. 

In September the Thirty-ninth Regiment was placed 
in Gen. Sheridan's command, and took part in the ad- 
vance against Petersburg. In this way the Medford boys 



196 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

of Company C were in at one of the closing struggles of 
the war, and shared in the glory which the fall of Peters- 
burg secured to the Federal army. 

April 4 the conditions of final surrender were signed 
at Appomattox. The volunteers who had then developed 
into bronzed and victorious veterans, with work in the field 
completed, turned their faces homeward ; and on the 2d 
of June the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts was discharged 
from the service. The men started for home without 
delay ; and in Baltimore, where three years before they 
had been coldly received, they enjoyed a grand ovation. 
That was the beginning of a series of splendid receptions 
given them all along the route to New England. 

In the town records for the year ending Feb. i, 1866, 
we find the following statement touching the preparation 
made for the return of the veterans : — 

** At a meeting of the citizens held at the Town Hall, 
May 17, to take measures for the suitable reception of 
our returning veterans, John Stetson was chosen chairman, 
and Parker R. Litchfield secretary. A committee con- 
sisting of Gen. Samuel C. Lawrence, Capt. Charles Cur- 
rier, Capt. Benjamin F. Hayes, Joseph L. Goldthvvait, Esq., 
and Daniel W. Lawrence, Esq., was appointed to make the 
necessary arrangements, and raise the requisite funds." 

On the loth of June our company returned to their 
homes. They were received at the depot in Boston by 
the selectmen and a large delegation of Medford citizens, 
and under the escort of the Lawrence Rifles. Brig.-Gen. 
Samuel C. Lawrence acted as chief marshal. The com- 
pany, with its escort, proceeded to the Boston and Maine 
Depot, where they took a special train for Medford. 

Arriving at Park Street, a procession of citizens was 
formed, under the same escort ; and amidst the booming 
of cannon and the ringing of bells, they marched through 
the principal streets to West Medford, and from there to 
the Armory of the Lawrence Rifles, where a collation was 
served, and each veteran was presented with a beautiful 
bouquet. Along the line of the procession the citizens 
displayed flags and mottoes, furnished refreshments, and 
loudly cheered the war-worn heroes ; and many a tear was 
shed by those, who, three years before, bade adieu to loved 
ones of the company, who were now sleeping in unknown 
graves. 

On the afternoon of the 13th a more extended recep- 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 1 97 

tion was given to the same company, of which the follow- 
ing report was published in the "Boston Advertiser" of 
the 14th, and afterwards copied into the town, records : — 

RECEPXrON IN MEDFORD. 

Yesterday afternoon the citizens of Medford gave the veterans of 

the Lawrence Light Guards, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, a 

glorious reception home. A procession was formed in front of the 

Town Hall in the early part of the afternoon, in order as follows : — 

Gilmore's Band. 

The new Lawrence Rifles, Capt. Ha3'es. 

Engine and Hook-and-Ladder Companies. 

Board of Selectmen. 

Body of Citizens. 

Army and Navy Association. 

The returned Veterans, Capt. Hutchins. 

The procession, under the chief marshalship of Brig.-Gen. S. C. 
Lawrence, who was assisted by Capt. Charles Currier, J. L. Gold- 
thwait, D. W. Lawrence, and Capt. B. F. Hayes, marched through 
the principal streets of the town to the Green Mountain Grove. As the 
veterans passed along, they were greeted with cheers and the waving 
of handkerchiefs. The houses in the streets through which they 
passed displayed, in very many instances, flags and streamers, with 
mottoes of welcome. 

At Green Mountain Grove — a delightful retreat — the veterans 
were seated, and the formal exercises of the reception began. Brig.- 
Gen. Lawrence presided ; and after prayer by Rev. George M. Preston, 
a choir of about five hundred tine singers from the public schools, 
under the lead of Mr. Henry G. Carey, sang a song of welcome, 
beginning, " Oh, 'twill be a happy time." Mr. Nathan W. Bridge, 
chairman of the board of selectmen, in behalf of the town, welcomed 
the veterans home in a short and touchinijly eloquent address. 

Capt. Hutchins briefly responded. After expressing the thanks in 
behalf of the company, for the cordial manner in which they had been 
received, Capt. Hutchins stated that the company left Medford three 
years ago, numbering ninety-seven men and three officers ; it has 
come home with thirty-two men and two officers. Twenty brave 
fellows have died, of whom eight have been killed in battle, eight 
have died in rebel prisons, and four have died of disease. One officer 
and twenty men have been discharged the service, and nine trans- 
ferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. These figures show that the 
company has done its duty. No man, said the speaker, ever faltered 
when called upon to face the enemy, and no man has tried to keep 
out of the fight. They have nobly fought, and performed their duty. 
[Cheers.] 

After music by the band, James M. Usher was introduced. He 
referred to the time when tlie company first went out to the war on 
the 15th of August, 1862. They have been, he said, through all the 
great trials of the war, and have borne themselves nobly. He had 
been informed that no man had been placed in the guard-house, or 
been put under arrest for improper conduct, during the whole time 
that the regiment had been out. He was glad, also, to state that this 
company was among the few that had been so fortunate as to retain 



198 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

its original organization throughout the whole period of the war. The 
children sang, '' Yes, the boys are now at home," after which Private 
James A. Hervey of the Guards, being introduced, made a short 
eloquent speech. More singing was had by the children, and more 
patriotic speeches by Rev. Charles Brooks, Thomas S. Harlow, Esq., 
Hon. E. C. Baker, Rev. B. H. Davis, and Rev. Henry M. Loud; and 
the exercises closed with " America," in which all joined in singing, 
accompanied by the band, and tlie benediction by Rev. Mr. Hooker. 

The day closed with a substantial collation under the shade of the 
trees, served by the patriotic ladies of the town. The stores were 
generally closed in the village during the afternoon, and the children 
of the schools had a holiday. The company has been transferred to 
its old regiment, — the Fifth, — and now holds the same letter and 
number which it did before the war. 

The Lawrence Light Guard still retains its organization 
as Company E of the Fifth Regiment, and holds an hon- 
orable position in the brigade to which it is attached. It 
has had for its commanders since the war, Capts. I. F. R. 
Hosea, W. VV. Manning, J. H. Whitney, Charles R. Daw- 
son (lieutenant commanding), George L. Goodale, H. J, 
Newhall, and J. E. Clark. No matter how long these 
pleasant times of peace may last, the perpetuation of this 
corps should be an object of tender solicitude to our peo- 
ple, and otir young men should consider it a duty and an 
honor to enroll themselves in its ranks. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 199 



CHAPTER VII. 

MILITARY HISTORY CONTINUED. 
THE MEDFORD LIGHT INFANTRY. 

The volunteers for three years had just departed for 
the seat of war, when a call was made for volunteers for 
nine months' service. At a town-meeting, held on the 
15th of August, 1862, a bounty of two hundred dollars 
was offered to each man who should volunteer to fill the 
required quota. So promptly did Medford men respond 
to that call, that the company was full on the 23d of 
September, and on that day was mustered in. It had 
been organized under the name of the Medford Light 
Infantry. 

The following account of the departure of the com- 
pany to Camp Lander, Wenham, is copied from the town 
records : — 

"The Medford Light Infantry, consisting of ninety-six 
men, met in the Town Hall at one o'clock p.m. on the 
twenty-second day of September, 1862, and subsequently 
in the square, where prayer was offered by Rev. George 
M. Preston. 

"At two o'clock P.M. they took up their line of march, 
accompanied by the Boston Brigade Band, and escorted by 
the selectmen, a cavalcade, and procession of citizens on 
foot, under the direction of Thomas S. Harlow, Esq., chief 
marshal, to the Eastern Railroad station in Somerville, 
where they took passage for Camp Lander. On their 
arrival there, they partook of a bountiful collation fur- 
nished by the liberality of our citizens." 

ROLL OF THE MEDFORD LIGHT INFANTRY, COMPANY F, 
FIFTH REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



Charles Currier, captain. 
Alfred Haskell, ist lieutenant. 
Elisha N. Pierce, 2d lieutenant. 



James F. Ginn. ist sergeant. 
George W. Williamson, sergeant. 
David O. Floyd, sergeant. 



200 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Francis A. Lander, sergeant. 

Charles Russell, sergeant. 

George M. Teel, corporal. 

Lyman N. Lee, corporal. 

Everett Newhall. 

Edwin C. Burbank. 

Josiab W. Parker. 

George N. Kimball 

Augustus G. Baxter. 

Silas F. Wild. 

Charles H. Prentiss, musician. 

Lucius C. Woolley, musician. 

Charles C. Pierce, wagoner. 

Adams, Samuel. 

Adams, Joseph D. 

Bagley, Alonzo J. 

Brown, Hiram. 

Butters, Andrew. 

Bragdon, George W. 

Black, Lewis. 

Burbank, William H. 

Baker, William H. S. 

Bresnahan, Jeremiah. 

Clark, Goram B. 

Currell, Eldridge G. 

Currell, Eldridge G., jun. 

Curtin, Francis. 

Curtin, Andrew. 

Denham, David A. 

Davis, Samuel. 

Darling, Theodore. 

Dwyer, Thomas. 

Fett, Jacob. 

Farley, Thomas. 

Garner, James. 

Gilson, William. 

Gee, Nathaniel. 

Gould, Thomas. 

Gray, Arthur W. 

Howard, James. 

Hooker, David S., jun. 

Hayford, Seth. 

Harding, Stephen. 

Hines, Ira. 



Hartshorn, Hollis. 
Hervey, Frank. 
Howe, Humphrey B. 
Harding, William. 
Jones, William E. 
James, John. 
Keen, Atwell C. 
Kimball, Isaiah, W. 
Locke, James D. 
Litchfield, Joseph D. 
Lawrence, William. 
Lord, Stephen. 
Mason, Edward H. 
McGillcuddy, Daniel. 
McAleer, James. 
McKinney, Andrew. 
Means, George W. 
Miller, George W. 
Mathews, Ebenezer B. 
Oliver, Samuel F. 
O'Connell, Michael. 
O'Brien, Michael. 
Paye, Kphraim C. 
Peak, Horatio N., jun. 
Powell, John F. 
Powers, James M. 
Riley, Michael. 
Rich, Stillman. 
Reed, Alvin R. 
Smith, Frank B. 
Sampson, George H. 
Stimpson, Alden M. 
Stephens, Alfred. 
Stock, Henry. 
Sanborn, John H. 
Towle, Daniel. 
Towie, Sydney M. 
Tav, Francis J. 
Wood, Dexter T. 
Willis, Calvin W. 
Walker, Judson. 
White, John M. 
Wheeler, William N. 



After a month passed in Camp Lander, the Fifth Regi- 
ment, of which the Medford Light Infantry formed a part, 
was ordered to the front, and embarked on the steamer 
" Mississippi " for Beaufort, N.C., Oct. 22, 1862. The trip 
was prosperous, and the steamer reached its destination 
in four days. Before the regiment had been on Southern 
soil twenty-four hours, it was ordered to prepare to move ; 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 201 

and Goldsboro' and the Wilmington and Sheldon Railroad 
were the objective points. The intention was to cut off 
rebel supplies, communication, and transportation of every 
description ; and in the brisk and determined work that 
ensued, the Fifth Regiment had an important part. The 
campaign was successful ; and, that it might be properly 
commemorated, the regimental flags were inscribed as 
follows: Kingston, Dec. 14, 1862; Whitehall, Dec. 16, 
1862; Goldsboro', Dec. 17, 1862. On returning to New- 
bern, where the camp was then located, the first part of 
the winter was spent in the erection of Fort Pierson, so 
named in honor of the colonel of the Fifth Regiment. 

The first notable expedition that followed had for its 
object the reduction of the rebel works at Washington, 
N.C. It was begun April 20, 1863, and its entire success 
secured a most important point for the army. But the 
crowning event of the nine-months' service was the cap- 
ture of the Confederate stronghold at Moseley Creek. In 
the reconnoitre that preceded the grand attack, which 
occurred about the first of May, Col. Pierson accom- 
plished a brilliant feat. The situation of the rebel works 
was peculiar, and they could not be successfully assailed 
unless the attack were made from both sides at the same 
time. By admirable strategy this was effected, and the 
victory was complete. The service of the regiment was 
practically ended with this achievement. Soon after, it 
returned to Fort Pierson, and was ordered back to Massa- 
chusetts, its term of service having expired. 

On their arrival at Boston, June 26, the nine months' 
men were duly honored by a grand reception, in which the 
citizens of Medford were represented. In Charlestown a 
collation was served for them ; and then the Medford com- 
pany were escorted to the town line, where they were 
received by past and active officials, citizens, members of 
the fire-department, and the National Lancers of Boston, 
Capt. Slade. 

The veterans made an extended march through the 
streets of the town, and, then passing into the Town Hall, 
were formally received by Gen. Samuel C. Lawrence in an 
admirable speech, full of patriotic sentiment and warm 
congratulation. Capt. Charles Currier happily responded 
for his company, and the formal services ended with an 
elaborate and elegant collation, served by the ladies. 



202 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



MEDFORD VOLUNTEERS IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 

The service of volunteers from this town in other organ- 
izations of the Union army deserves equally honorable 
mention. Under the various calls of the government, the 
quotas of Medford were promptly filled, and the men, as 
they were enlisted, were attached to different branches of 
the service. 

In the Fifteenth Infantry, there were thirty Medford 
volunteers ; in the Fifth Cavalry, twenty ; in the First 
Cavalry, eighteen ; in the Seventeenth Infantry, sixteen ; 
in the Twenty-eighth Infantry, seventeen ; in the Twenty- 
fourth Infantry, six ; in the Thirteenth Infantry, five ; in 
the Second Heavy Artillery, four ; in the First Infantry, 
four ; Fifth Infantry, three ; Second Cavalry, three ; 
Twenty-ninth Infantry, three; Fourteenth Battery, three ; 
Eighth Battery, three; First Infantry, three; Nineteenth 
Infantry, three ; Nimm's Battery, two ; Twenty-first In- 
fantry, two ; Twentieth Infantry, two ; Light Artillery, 
two ; Eleventh Infantry, two ; Second Infantry, two ; Six- 
teenth Infantry, one ; Mozart's Regiment, one ; and one in 
each of the following organizations, the Thirty-second In- 
fantry, Sixth Battery, Twenty-second Infantry, Fifth Bat- 
tery, Eighth Battery, Eighteenth Battery, Second Battery, 
Fourteenth Infantry, Eleventh Infantry, Thirty-eighth In- 
fantry, Tenth Infantry, Thirtieth Infantry, Forty-fifth In- 
fantry, Eleventh Battery, First Heavy Artillery, Ninth 
Heavy Artillery, Fifty-fourth Infantry, Fourth Cavalry, 
and Ninth Infantry. 

There were also three Medford men in a New-York 
regiment, one in a Vermont regiment, and ten in other 
branches of the Federal service. 

Besides these, Medford had fifteen "one hundred 
days' men" who were enlisted to fill a quota called for 
in the latter part of 1864. Of these last named, thirteen 
were assigned to the Fifth Regiment of Infantry, and two 
to the Sixtieth Infantry. 

It would be difficult and impracticable to follow these 
men in their camp and field duties : their individual ex- 
perience is so merged in the history of numerous organi- 
zations. But those who were reported had an honorable 
record, and they rendered loyal and valuable service to the 
cause. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 20- 



PRISON EXPERIENCES. 

One of the saddest things of which the historian of the 
Great Rebellion has to write is the experience of North- 
ern soldiers in Southern prisons. 

In the attack made on the Weldon Railroad, Aug. i8 
and 19, the following named members of Company C were 
captured : Capt. Hutchins, Lieut. Hosea, Sergeants Eames 
and Morrison, and Privates Frank Curtis, Milton F. Roberts, 
Edwin Ireland, William H. Rogers, and Benjamin Ellis. 
We have a thrilling account of the experience of these men, 
and it may well stand to represent the treatment which 
our soldiers received in rebel prisons. 

The capture of the men just named was effected by a 
shrewd flank movement, made by a rebel division. The 
men captured in that way were first deprived of every 
thing they had which would have enabled them to pur- 
chase food and comfort in the places to which they were 
to be sent, and then they were marched to Petersburg and 
Richmond. 

They remained nine days within the walls of Libby 
Prison, when they were rejoiced to hear of their contem- 
plated removal to Belle Isle, where, as one of the men 
wrote at the time, " if no better food is to be had, we shall 
at least get plenty of air." Their food at Libby was ex- 
ecrable, — "small in amount, and occasional," as the same 
prisoner described it ; and when our Medford boys reached 
Belle Isle, to which they were driven like sheep to a slaugh- 
ter-house, they did not find their "bill of fare" improved 
in quality or quantity. 

They had rations dealt out to them twice a day. The 
amount to each man was usually a piece of coarse corn 
bread about an inch and a half square, to which was some- 
times added, as a luxury, a thin slice of fat bacon, rancid 
and maggoty. 

About the loth of October a large number of prisoners, 
including those from Medford, were removed to the notori- 
ous prison at Salisbury, N.C., having been given, before 
they started, a paltry allowance of bread, which, as they 
were told, was their " three-days' rations." They arrived 
at their destination in a most pitiable condition ; and when 
they saw the state of things in their new place of confine- 
ment, some of them, already weak and sick, lost heart. The 
occupants of that prison were then mainly Southern Union- 



204 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

ists, principally from Tennessee ; rebel deserters and cut- 
throats ; Northern non-combatants, correspondents, and 
officers and men, that had been captured by privateers. 
At one time there were nearly ten thousand men within 
the limits of that horrible place. 

About a week after arrivin<^ there, the prisoner who 
wrote as already quoted, from Libby and Belle Isle, made 
the following record : " We are fast becoming emaciated, 
and more or less mentally diseased. We seem to be dead 
to our usual feeling as men ; and those who give way to 
despondency soon find an end to their earthly sufferings." 

As the cold weather approached, some of the prisoners 
asked to be allowed to go into the forests around the prison, 
and cut trees v/ith which to build log-houses for protec- 
tion ; but they were refused with most insolent words and 
curses. Their keepers seemed to enjoy their unmistakable 
miseries, and delighted in augmenting them. They hated 
the very name of Yankee, and Massachusetts men were 
specially obnoxious to them : indeed, they seemed intent 
upon destroying in prison those they had not been able to 
destroy in the field. In the diary of one of our Medford 
men, this record was made : " Men are dying around us 
at the rate of forty-seven a day, a mortality that would 
sweep away every soul in dear old Medford in five months." 

Their treatment, worse than death, drove some of the 
prisoners to make the desperate attempt of a forcible 
escape. The plan failed, and then rebel muskets and 
cannon were turned upon them with terrible effect. 

The cruelties that followed were too horrible to relate. 
They were so heartless and terrible that three men — 
Richardson and Brown, correspondents of the " New-York 
Tribune," and Davis of the "Cincinnati Gazette" — planned 
an escape, with capture or death as the probable result. 
They were successful. They managed to pass the rebel 
lines and work their way to Washington, where they labored 
with the President and Congress until an exchange of the 
Salisbury prisoners was effected. 

The news reached the prison, Feb. 20, 1865 ; and without 
delay the worn captives turned their backs on a prison, the 
cruelties of which would disgrace any savage nation on 
earth, and on the 24th they were within the Union lines. 

Nevertheless, all who went to Salisbury did not survive 
the tortures of that place. Several Medford men died at 
the prison there, whose names will appear in another place. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 205 

The horrors of prison-life at Salisbury and Belle Isle 
were much the same as at Libby and Andersonville, and 
we save our readers the pain that a statement of particu- 
lars would give them. 



HOSPITAL EXPERIENCES. 

The places in which our Medford soldiers suffered from 
wounds and sickness were many and wide apart. A large 
number died in hospitals ; but we need not attempt a 
description of individual experiences that looked either 
towards life or death. 

Yet we should be guilty of great injustice, did we not 
refer in this chapter to the work of the Sanitary Commis- 
sion in behalf of our sick and wounded. Faithful women 
also carried gleams of light into Union hospitals during 
the Rebellion ; and many a sick or wounded soldier looked 
upon stranger faces with tender and loving emotions, be- 
cause they awakened holy remembrances of mother, wife, 
or sister, whose places they sought to fill, and whose ten- 
derness they emulated. 

THE HOME WORK OF THE WAR. 

But there was a side of the war less painful and dan- 
gerous, though not less difficult and perplexing, than those 
of which we have already treated. Not all the battles of 
a great war are fought at the front. The work of recruit- 
ing an army, of filling up its depleted ranks, of creating 
new regiments, of responding to calls for hospital supplies, 
and of providing for widows and orphans made such by 
the slaughter of husbands and fathers, — this is a drudgery 
of war that those must perform who remain at home ; and 
some of it involves the necessity of much labor and self- 
sacrifice. 

The men who remained at home, and had this work 
principally in charge, were the town and city officers ; and 
in almost all cases they were faithful, wise, and untiring in 
their difficult tasks. 

The selectmen were the directors, and sometimes the 
executors, of the work done in Medford for the army, and 
for those at home who suffered because of the war. Their 
names should be put on record, in memory of their earnest 
and honest endeavors. They were as follows : — 



206 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

1861. 
A. H. Butters, J. T. Foster, and E. Boynton. 

1862. 
E. Boynton, Charles S. Jacobs, and F. E. Foster. 

1863. 
A. H. Butters, A. N. Cotton, and W. B. Thomas. 

1864. 

Nathan W. Bridge, John P. Perry, Atvvood Litchfield, jun., 
Charles Currier, Charles Russell, N. M. Wild, and F. 
H. Kidder. 

1865. 

Nathan W. Bridge, Charles Currier, John P. Perry, Parker 
R. Litchfield, Elbridge Teele, Charles Russell, and 
Joshua Clark. 

\x\ justice to other citizens of the town, it should be 
said that the selectmen were frequently assisted in their 
arduous duties by large recruiting committees, composed 
of prominent citizens. Through them the frequent calls 
for volunteers were promptly met, and the facilities for 
raising money were greatly increased. 

In this last-named work, different associations of Med- 
ford ladies were important factors ; and they also rendered 
valuable assistance in making clothing and other necessary 
articles for the men at the front, and in securing for them 
indispensable supplies, especially for hospital uses. In 
1863, the town not being authorized to expend money in 
recruiting, committees received from individuals for that 
purpose $4,484.76. But more men were needed the fol- 
lowing year, and another committee soon raised by sub- 
scription the sum of $3,755.50 to use in the work of filling 
the next quota. And so the recruiting went on from year 
to year, and there seemed to be no limit to the liberality 
of the people in sustaining the war. 

From the beginning to the close of the Rebellion, eleven 
calls for men were made upon this town ; and the whole 
number furnished was 769. In the town record for the 
year ending Feb. i, 1866, there is a statement of the cost 
of furnishing that little army ; and we give it here as 
follows : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



207 















Date of Call. 


Men 
furnished. 


Term of 
Service. 


Bounty paid 


Other 
Expenses. 


Total 
Expenses. 


April 16, i86r. 


86 


3 months. 


_ 


_ 


_ 


May 3, 1861, 












June 16, 1861, 

May 28, 1S62, 
July 4, 1862, 


i.s 


3 years, 


$20,400 00 1 


^253 59 


fe5,i53 59 


Aug. 4, 1S62, 


no 


9 months. 


14,500 00 J 






Oct. 17, 1863, 


] 










Feb. I, 1S64, 


\ ^yi 


3 years. 


8,553 461 






March 15, 1S64, 


J 




1 








r 127 


3 years. 


K 


1,210 76 


19,514 22 


July 19, 1S64, 
Dec. 19, 1S64, 


7 
1 32 


2 years, 
I year, 


f 9,750 00 J 








I 15 


100 days. 








769 


- 


$53,203 46 


$1,464 15 


$54,667 61 



In addition to these amounts, there was paid by the 
town, as aid to families of volunteers, beyond what was 
reimbursed by the State, $1,507.44, making a total of 
$56,175.05. 

The voluntary subscriptions of citizens were, in part, 
as follows : — 



Expenses of uniforms, outfits, relief of families, of the 

three months' men, under call of April 16, 1861 
Bounties to volunteers to fill quotas of July 14, 1862 
Bounties to volunteers to fill quotas of FelD. i, 1864 
Bounties to volunteers to fill quotas of March 14, 1864 
Bounties to volunteers to fill quotas of July 18, 1864 
Bounties to volunteers to fill quotas of Dec. 19, 1864 



Amount paid by the town . 
Amount paid by subscription 



Total amount 



$3,056 97 

150 00 

213 42 

2.570 00 

8,586 65 

2,156 73 

5^16,733 77 

$56,175 05 
j6,733 11 

$72,908 82 



But this amount does not cover the aid to soldiers, 
rendered largely through the instrumentality of the ladies 
of Medford. TJie Ladies' Benevolent Society of the First 
Parish, organized before the outbreak of the war, com- 
menced working for the soldiers by making flannel shirts 
and drawers for our first volunteers, and then, aided by 
other patriotic ladies, completed one hundred suits of 
clothing, donated by Francis Brooks, Esq., to the company 
under Capt. Hutchins. 



208 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

Durin^: the remainder of the war this society completed, 
and sent to the hospitals, eight thousand garments suited 
to the needs of the sick and wounded soldiers, besides 
many hundred bandages, and bundles of old linen and 
cotton ; and when the cry for help for Union refugees 
came from St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Louisville, twenty 
barrels were packed, and sent to them. 

The officers of this society were : Eliza H. Carrett, 
president ; Helen Porter, secretary and treasurer. 

In 1862 another society was organized by the ladies of 
Medford, called TJie Union Soldiers Relief Society. Its 
members represented all religious societies in town except 
the Unitarian, which had charge of the organization already 
named. The object of the Relief Society was similar to 
that of the Benevolent Society ; and during the three years 
ending October, 1865, its members made and sent to the 
soldiers donations as follows : 648 shirts, 351 pairs draw- 
ers, 316 pairs socks, 45 pairs mittens, 173 pairs slippers, 
70 caps, 75 handkerchiefs, 13 pillow-cases, 19 pillows, 4 
dressing-gowns, 19 bottles of wine, and other delicacies 
for the sick. 

They also gave suits of underclothing to twelve soldiers 
at home on furlough, and two suits each to seven returned 
prisoners of war. Nine boxes were sent to the Christian 
Commission ; one box to the Sanitary Commission ; one to 
the nine-months' men ; four boxes to Company C, Thirty- 
ninth Regiment; and three boxes to the Philadelphia, 
Annapolis, and Washington hospitals. The ladies of this 
society contributed various things of considerable value to 
the Union cause, among which was the sum of $110 to 
three disabled soldiers of Company C, Thirty-ninth Regi- 
ment. The officers of this society, at the close of the war, 
when it disbanded, were : Mrs. Timothy Cotting, presi- 
dent ; Mrs. Silas F. Wild, secretary. Another enterprise 
in behalf of the families of absent or deceased soldiers 
was successfully carried out by several public-spirited 
ladies and gentlemen, who secured a series of entertain- 
ments at the Town Hall, which netted the handsome sum 
of $575.20. 

In addition to all this, $650.54 was raised by subscription, 
to furnish Thanksgiving presents to soldiers' families; and 
finally $759.03 was raised to pay the expenses of the re- 
ception of veterans, at the close of the war. 

Many acts of generous patriotism, of an individual and 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 209) 

private character, were scattered along the years of the Re-- 
bellion, the particulars of which will never be made public;, 
but one of that class has come to the light, and is too noble 
to pass from remembrance. Mrs. Abner Bartlett. sister of 
the Hon. Tristram Burgess of Rhode Island, well known 
in his time, knit with her own hands three hundred and 
forty-one pairs of stockings, that were forwarded to the 
soldiers. She had passed her eighty-fifth year before she 
knit the last pair. 

In closing this chapter on the home side of the war, 
we cannot better aid to keep alive the true idea of the 
earnestness and zeal of Medford in the Union cause, than 
by making a record of what occurred on Sunday, Aug. 24, 

1862. On that day, at half-past one o'clock, the selectmen 
received the news of the repulse of our army near Wash- 
ington. With the sad tidings came a request for hospital 
stores of all kinds. The citizens were called to the square 
by the ringing of bells. Afternoon services, in most of the 
churches, were dispensed with, and every energy of men 
and women was bent to the work of responding to the call. 
Men and women hurried to the town-hall from their several 
homes, with hands and arms full of the needed supplies ; 
and soon many barrels were packed with bandages, linens, 
lint, cordials, jellies, medicines, etc., which were sent with 
all haste to Boston, and, before sunset of that day, were 
on their way to the point where they were needed. 

It is a great pleasure to make such a record ; and when 
the people of Medford in future generations shall read it, 
they will say, " Surely our fathers and mothers believed, 
as Christ did, that it was right to do good on the sabbath." 

DEATH RECORD OF MEDFORD SOLDIERS. 

We find in the town records of the year ending Feb. i, 

1863, a statement of those who had previously died in the 
service, which is as follows : — 

Michael Leonard, killed at Antietam. 

Edward Gustine, killed at Malvern Hill. 

Daniel S. Cheney, killed before Richmond. 

Lucien M. Fletcher, died at Baton Rouge. 

Frank A. Keen, killed at South Mountam. 

Edward Sprague, died of wounds received in North Carolina. 

D. Tyler Ne\vcomb. killed at Goldsboro. 

Dominic Nolan, died at Hilton Head. 

William Lahey, killed at Sharpsburg. 

Daniel McGillicuddy, died at Newbern. 



2IO HISTORY OF MKDFORD. 

Albert H. Stacey, killed at Warrenton Junction. 
Daniel Dailey, place of death unknown. 

Later we find mention made of the death of the follow- 
ang soldiers : — 

George H. Champlin, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, Jan. 4, 
-^1863. 

Charles H. Coolidge, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment. 

Richard W. Cheslin, Company D, First Cavalry, killed in tlie battle 
of Aldie, June 7, 1863. 

Samuel W.Joyce, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died July 20, 
1863. 

Stephen Harding, Company F, Fifth Regiment, died at Newbern, 
June 17, 1863. 

James Stetson, Thirteenth Regiment, died at Gettysburg, July 3, 
1863. 

Joseph P. Hubbell, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died at 
Washington, 1863. 

The record for the year ending Feb. i, 1865, is still 
larger. 

Lieut.-Col. John G. Chambers, died at Fortress Monroe, May 13, 
1864, of wounds received at the battle of Drury's Bluff. 

William H. Burbank, First Lieut., Company I, Fifty-eighth Regi- 
ment, died June 11, 1864. of wounds received at White House, Va. 

Samuel M. Stevens, First Sergeant, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regi- 
ment, was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 10, 1864. 

James Beirne, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, killed at Spotsyl- 
vania Court House, May 12, 1864. 

Rodney C. Hathaway, Corporal, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, 
killed in attack at Weldon Railroad, July 20, 1864. 

Robert Livingston, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in 
prison at Andersonville, Aug. 21, 1864. 

Patrick Gleason, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in prison 
at Salisbury, N.C., 1864. 

James M. Pow-ers, Company K, Seventeenth Regiment, died in 
prison at Andersonville, August, 1864. 

Calvin W. Willis, Company K, Seventeenth Regiment, died in prison 
at Andersonville, July, 1864. 

Calvin Curtin, Company E, Twenty-eighth Regiment, died of wounds 
received in the battle of the Wilderness. 

James Haley, Company E, Twenty-eighth Regiment, died at Wash- 
ington, of disease, Nov. 16, 1864. 

Joel AL Fletcher, Corporal, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, 
died of wounds received before Petersburg, July 27, 1864. 
■ Alfred Joyce, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in prison at 
Salisbury, N.C., 1864. 

Augustus Tufts, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died of disease 
at Medford, 1864. 

Herman Mills, First Massachusetts Cavalry, died of disease at 
Beaufort, S.C, 1864. 



n IS TORY OF MEDFORD. 211 

Edward Ireland, Company C, Thirtj'-ninth Regiment, killed at Laurel 
Hill. 

Benjamin J. Ellis, jun., Company C, Thirtj'-ninth Regiment, died at 
Medford, from disease contracted while in prison. 

Sargeant Edwin B. Hatch, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, 
killed at Hatcher's Run. 

Frank R. Curtis, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in prison 
at Richmond, Va. 

William H. Rogers, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in 
prison at Salisbury, N.C. 

Henry G. Currell, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in 
prison at Andersonville, Ga. 

Michael O'Donnell, Second Heavy Artillery, died in prison at 
Andersonville, Ga. 

George H. Lewis, Seventeenth Regiment, died at Raleigh, N.C. 

Joseph M. Carret, died in prison at Andersonville, Ga. 



COL. JOHN G. CHAMBERS, 

Among the saddest events of the war. to the citizens of 
]\Iedford, was the death of Col. John G. Chambers, who 
was wounded at Drury's Bluff, and died at Fortress Monroe, 
May 13, 1864. 

He first served as a private soldier in a Massachusetts 
regiment during the Mexican War, at the end of which 
he returned to the peaceful purs^iits of private life. At 
the breaking-out of the Rebellion he was first lieutenant 
of the Lawrence Light Guards ; and on the 19th of April, 
1 861, he went with his company to the seat of war, and 
afterwards acted as adjutant of the regiment. 

At the expiration of the term of his three-months' ser- 
vice, he joined the Twenty-third Regiment as adjutant, and 
again went to the front. 

His cool courage, marked ability, and fondness for his 
profession, soon marked him as a man to be promoted ; 
and in due time he was made major, and afterwards colonel, 
of his regiment. 

A wound received in the shoulder, from a fragment of an 
exploded shell, gave him a short furlough. But he could 
not long remain idle when his country required his ser- 
vices ; and he soon rejoined his regiment, and shared all 
its dangers, hardships, and exposures, until he was called 
to lay down his life for the cause he had so faithfully 
served. 

His body was brought home ; and, with the consent of 
his family, the town took charge of his funeral. Prompted 
by patriotic feeling, and personal regard for the deceased, 



212 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

the whole community gathered together as mourners, and 
united in paying the last tribute of love and honor to the 
dead soldier. 

THE LAWRENCE RIFLES. 

This company was organized under the following 
authority : — 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Adjutant-General's Office, 
Boston, Jan. 27, 1865. 
[Special Orders No. 71.] 

George H. Gibson and eighty-four others of Medford and vicinity 
having forwarded to the Adjutarit-general a roll of enlistment for the 
volunteer militia of the Commonwealth : It is ordered, that a com- 
pany be organized of the men there enlisted, and that a captain and 
one' first lieutenant and one second lieutenant be immediately chosen. 
The order to assemble the men for the election will be directed to 
said Gibson of Medford, who will furnish the presiding officer with an 
attested copy of the enlistment-roll, previous to the meeting. The 
usual ten days' notice to electors will be waived. The chairman of 
selectmen of' Medford will preside at the election, and make prompt 
return of the doings to these headquarters. 

By command of His Excellency, 

John A. Andrew, 
Govefiior and Coin7nander-iii-Chief. 
William Schouler, 

A djiitant-General. 

When duly organized, it was attached to the Fifth Regi- 
ment as Company E, afterwards changed to Company F. 
During its existence, it served the purposes of its organi- 
zation, much to the satisfaction of the town, and the 
military authorities of the State. Benjamin F. Hayes, 
Godfrey Rvder, jun., William H. Dane, Charles O. Bur- 
bank, and Warren W. Manning, served successively as its 
commanders. 

It was, however, found difficult to maintain two military 
companies in Medford; and in 1874, by amicable arrange- 
ment, the membership of the Rifles was merged in that of 
the Lawrence Light Guard, and its charter transferred to 
a company formed in Waltham, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



213 



CHAPTER VIII. 

MILITARY HISTORV, CONTINUED. 

LIST OF MEDFORD MEN WHO SERVED IN THE UNION ARMIES 
DURING THE REBELLION. 



Names. 



Adams, Joseph D. 
Adams, Samuel 
Alden, William F. 
Alley, Charles Q. 
Anderson, James 
Anderson, John 

Bagley, Alonzo I. 
Bailey, William H 
Bailey, Augustus 
Bailey, James . 
Ballon, Charles H 
Banks, Joseph . 
Banks, Thomas 
Banks, Edward 
Barker, William H. S. 
Barker, William S. 
Barnard, David A 
Barnard, George N. 
Barry, ('.arret . . 
Barry, Michael 
Basset, Louis . . 
Baxter, George M. 
Beck, Johns. . . 
Beirnc, James . . 
Bellnix, George W. 
Beuford, Moses 
Black, Lewis 
Blanchard, William H 
Bond, Dudley . . 
Booker, George D. 
Braden, Angus. . 
Brent, William . . 
Brown, John . . 
Brown, John, 2d . 
Brown, John W. . 
Bryant, 'Edward G. 
Bryant, Sanuiel E. 
ISryden, Robert 
15unker, I5enjamin, jun 
Burns, Edward . . 
Busha, -Stephen 
Burnhani, Theodore 
l?nrns, James . . 
Ijurroughs, Joseph 
l''Ult^, Solomon 
Butters, Willard, jun 



Enlisted 
for 



Reg't. 



9 months 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 

9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 



5th 

5th 
39th 
39th 
i7lh 
15th 

5th 
32d 

5th Cav. 

5th Cav. 
39th 

Mozart 



Co, 



Mustered in. 



Mustered 
out. 



F 
F 
C 
C 
I 
Battery 

F 
C 
F 
F 
C 



Sept. 23, T862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1S62 
Aug. 6, 1S62 
Jan. 23, 1862 
Feb. 17, 1863 

Sept. 23, 1S62 
Nov. 23, 1861 
Feb. 22. 1S64 
Feb. 22, 1864 
Aug. 14, 1862 



July 2, 1863 
July 2, 1863 
Jan. 21, 1863 

Jan. 22, 1865 
Aug. 4, 1865 

July 2, 1863 
Nov. 27, 1864 
Oct. 31, 1865 
Oct. 31, 1S65 
May 18, 1865 



I ^ 



9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
1 year 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
1 year 
j 3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 



5th 
39th 
39th 
24th 
2Sth 

9th 
Navy 
39th 
39th 
39th 

4th H.A. 

5th Cav. 

5th 
39'h 
39th 
39th 
20th 

5th Cav. 
Navy 
Navy 
Navy 
28th 
2Sth 

4lh H.A. 
39th 
28th 
39th 
15th 
15th 
Navy 

5lh Cav. 

I St Cav. 



Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1S62 
Dec. 19, 1863 
Dec. 13, 1861 
Aug. 13, 1862 



July 
July 



1863 
1865 



Jan. ao, 1866 
Jan. I, 1864 



Aug. 
Aug. 
July 
Aug. 
May 
Sept. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Mar. 



14, 1862 
14, 1862 
29, 1862 
22, 1864 
21, 1864 

2^, 1862 
9, 1862 

8, 1862 
14, 1862 
14, 1S61 

4, 1864 



Oct. 
July 



;i, 1862 
2, 1865 



June 17, 1865 
Oct. 31, 1865 
July 2, 1S63 
July 2, 1865 
Jan. 21, 1863 



C 

c 

K 
C 

A 

C 
Battery 
Battery 



Dec. 13, 1861 I Feb. 14, 1862 

Dec. 13, 1861 I Oct. 30, 1862 

Aug. 18, 1864 j Sept. 17, 1865 

Aug. 74, 1862 j Oct. 20, 1862 

Dec. 13, 1861 I Dec. 18, 1S64 

July 22, 1862 j 

Feb. 17, 1863 I 

Feb. 17, 1863 ' 



May 27, 1864 \ Oct. 31, 1865 
Sept. 25, i86t I Oct. 24, 1864 



214 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

LIST OF MEDFORD MEN, ETC. — Continued. 



Enlisted 
for 



Reg't. 



Co. 



Mustered in 



Mustered 
out. 



jun 



Campbell, Hugh M. 
C.irter, William 
Carroll, Daniel 
Carr, Royal S. . . 
Champlln, Georse H 
Chaffin, James W. 
Chambers, John G. 
Cheney, William . 
Cheney, Daniel S. 
Cheslyn, Richard W. 
Churchill, George A. 
Chick, Thomas C. 
Clapp, Meltiah . . 
Clapp, (jeorge L. . 
Clark, Gorham B. 
Coffin, George W. 
Coleman, Perry 
Coolidge, Charles H. 
Coughhn, Michael 
Coughlui, Owen 
Crockett, Edward F. 
Curtin, Francis 
Ciirtin, Andrew 
Curtis, Frank J. 
Ciirrell, Henry G. 
Cnrrell, Klhridge G. 
Cnrrell, Klhridge G., 
Currier, Charles . 
Cushing, Joseph M. . 
Gushing, Henry H. D 
Cushing, Lyman F. W. 
Cutler, Benjamin P. . 



D' Avignon . . . 
Daily, Daniel . . 
Dane, Thomas . . 
Darling, Theodore 
Davis, Joseph . . 
Davis, William L. 
Davis, Samuel . 
Dean, Martin P. . 
Denham, David A. 
Delancy, Thomas . 
Dever, James . . 
Dixon, John . . 
Doherty, James . 
Donnell, George E. 
Dore, Joseph . . 
Douglas, James A. 
Dow, Albert F. 
Dow, Benjamin H. 
Driscoll, John . . 
Dunn, Edwin . . 
Dushutte, H. L. . 
Dwyer, Thomas . 
Dyer, Charles E. . 



Eames, John H. . 
Eells, Fred S. . . 
Ellis, Benjamin J. 
Ellis, Hezekiah C. 
Ellis, Robert . . 
Ells, Daniel S. . . 
Evans, Henry . . 



Farley, Thomas 
Fett, Jacob . . 



I year 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
1 year 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
9 months 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
1 year 
3 years 

3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
I year 
9 months 
3 years 
I year 



99th 
4th H.A. 
15th 
39th 
39th 
39th 
2 id 



N\'. 

K. 
Battery 
C 
C 
C 



39th 


C 


1st 


Battery 


5th Cav. 


D 


39th 


C 


5th Cav. 


C 


39th 


C 


39th 


C 


5th 


F 


4th H.A. 


K 


39th 


C 


39th 


C 


28th 


A 


39th 


C 


3uth 


C 


2Sth 


A 


5th 


F 


39lh 


C 


i9th 


C 


5th 


F 


5lh 


F 


5th 


F 


39th 


C 


39th 


C 


4th H.A. 




39th 


C 



2d 

6th 
17th 

5th 
30th 
17th 

5th 

4tliH.A 

5th 
i5lh 

4th H.A. 



I 
Battery 

K 

F 
Hosp. St'd 

A 

F 

K 

F 
Battery 

K 



Navy 
nth 



3 years 
3 years 
3 years 



3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 

3 years 
I year 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
100 days 
3 years 

9 months 
9 months 



2d 
39th 
39th 

Navy 

15th 

39 th 

5th 

39th 

39th 

4th H.A. 
39th 
39th 
17th 
60th 
Navy 



Battery 
C 
F 
C 

C 
K 
C 

c 

K 
A 



5th 
5th 



Aug. 18 
Feb. 17 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 14 
ISlar. 27 
Nov. 26 
July. 16 
Sept. 13 
Sept. 19 
Aug. 14 
Sept 23 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 14 
Sept. 23 
Aug. 18 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 14 
Jan. I 
Aug. 9 
July 29 
Mar. II 
Sept. 23 
July 18 
Aug. 14 
Sept. 23 
Sept. 23 
Sept. 23 
Aug. II 
Aug. 14 
Sept. 2 
July 28 

May 25 
Jan. 9 
July 22 
Sept 23 
Jan. 4 
Mar. 15 
Sept. 23 
Aug. 18 
Sept 23 
Feb. 17 
Aug. 18 



June 13 



May 21, 
Aug. 14, 
Aug. 14, 



Feb. 17, 
July 22, 
Sept. 23, 
Aug. 14, 

Aug. 14, 
Aug 18, 
Aug. 14, 
Aug. 14, 
July 22, 
July 18, 



Sept. 33, 
Sept. 23, 



S64 I June 
863 I Aug. 
8b2 June 



Feb. 
June 



86? 1 July 

861 i Oct. 

862 . . 
S62 j July 
862 July 
864 I July 

Nov. 



862 



June 

Aug. 



862 ] July 
S62 . . 
862 . . 
862 ! July 
862 j July 
862 July 
862 June 
862 i Jan. 
864 j June 
862 June 



May II, 



Feb. 13, 
July 2, 



July II, 
July 2, 

864 

862 i July 2, 
803 i . . . 
864 j June 9, 



31 I June 24, 



864 
862 
S62 



June 2, 



863 



864 



Sept. 26, 
Dec. 23. 
July 2, 
July 2, 

Sept. 6, 
June 17, 



June 2, 
Aug. 3, 
Nov. 30, 



July 2, 
July 2, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



215 



LIST OF MEDFORD MEN, ETC. COUtimied. 



Enlisted 
for 



Reg't. 



Co. 



Mustered in. 



Mustered 
out. 



Flanegan, Thomas 
Fletcher, Joel M. . 
Fletcher, Thomas M, 
Fletcher, Lucius M. 
Fletcher, Stephen W, 
Foster, Joseph R. . 
Fox, Terrence L. . 
Fox, George . . 



Gaflney. Patrick . 
Gale, Mortier . . 
Gee, Nathaniel . . 
Gill, Anderson L. B. 
Gillard, Thomas H. 
Gilson, William . 
Ginn, James F. 
Girard, James S. . 
Gleason, Patrick . 
Glover, Edward W. 
Goodale, Edward . 
Goodale, George I,. 
Gordon, Thomas A. 
Gordon, Orange S. 
Gould, Thomas 
Geary, Albert . . 
Gray, Arthur W. . 
Gray, Francis . . 
Green, Samuel S. . 
Green, Joseph . . 
Green, James . 
Griffin, Daniel H. 
Gustine, Edward F. 



Haley, James . . 
Hallowell, Edward N 
Hammond, Charles 
Harris, James, jun. 
Hartshorn, HoUis . 
Hartshorn, Elbridge ] 
Harding, Stephen . 
Harding, William . 
Harding, William . 
Harrington, Charles 1 
Haskell, Alfred . 
Haskell, Charles H. 
Haskins, Martin 
Haskins, Patrick 
Hatch, Edwin B. . . 
Hathaway, Rodney C 
Hathaway, Henry R 
Hathaway, Nelson F 
Hayford. Seth . . 
Heath, Andrew J. 
Hendarkin, Timothy 
Hervey. James A. 
Hervey, Frank . . 
Henry, John . . 
Hines, Ira . . . 
Hilliard, George H. 
Hilton, Ebenezer . 
Hilton, William M 
Holbrook, Fred W 
Holmes, Emery !>. 
Hooker, David S., ji 
Hosea, Isaac F R. 
Howe, Humphrey B 
Howard, James 



D. 



3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
I year 
3 years 
3 yeais 

3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 



15th 
39th 
39th 
30th 

22d 

Navy 
39th 
5th 

9th 

5th 

5th 
39th 
39th 

5th 

5th 

I St Cav. 
39th 



Battery 
C 
C 
A 
H 



Feb. 17, iS 
Aug. 14, iS 
July 28, 18 
Sept. 15, 18 
Oct. I, 18 



Aug. 14, 



E 
Battery 
F 
C 
C 
F 
F 
F 
C 



July 16, 1862 
July 31, 1862 

June II, 1861 
Sept. 16, 1861 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Dec. 20, 1S63 
Aug. 6, 1S62 



May 25, 



Jan. II, 
Aug. 3, 
July 2, 



Jime 2, 
July 2, 
July 2, 
June 26, 



3 years 



39th 



Aug. 14, 1862 



3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
I year 
3 years 
I year 
3 years 

3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
I year 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
9 months 



1st Cav. 
39th 
5th 
28th 
5th 
Navy 
13th 
Navy 
Navy 
4th H.A. 
5th 

28th 
20th 

Sth Cav. 
Navy 

5th 
39th 

5th 
39th 

5th 

I St Cav. 

5th 
39th 
17th 
17th 
39th 
39th 
39th 
39th 

5th 
39th 

5th 
39th 

5th 
15th 

5th 

I St Cav. 
nth 
13th 
3uth 

;th H.A. 

5th 
39th 

5th 

Sth 



Aug. II, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Dec. 13, i85i 
Sept. 23, 1862 



Nov. 7, 
May 24, 
July 2, 
Nov. 21, 
July 2, 



Feb. 13, 1862 



Dec. 17, 



K 
Battery 



Aug. 18, 1864 
Sept. 19, 1861 



Dec. 13 
Nov. 12 
May 21 



F 
C 
F 
C 
F 
C 
F 
C 
I 
I 
C 
C 
C 
C 
F 
C 
F 
C 
F 
Battery 
F 
C 
F 
C 
C 
K. 
F 
C 
F 
F 



Sept. 23 
Aug. 4 
Sept. 23 
Aug. II 
Sept. 23 
Aug. II 
Sept. 23 
Aug. 8 
Jan. 27 
Jan. 20 
Aug. 14 
July 31 
July 29 
Aug. 14 
Sept. 23 
July 18 
Sept. 23 
July 29 
Sept. 23 
Feb. 13 
Sept. 23 
Sept. 17 
June 13 
F'eb. 13 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 19 
Sept. 23 
Aug. 14 
Sept. 23 
Sept. 23 



June 17, 



1861 
1862 



Mar. 
Oct, 



July 2, 
May 18, 



1S62 
1862 
1862 



1862 
1862 



1861 
1862 



July 2, 
Oct. 

July 2, 
Jan, 

Jan. 23, 

July 10, 



June 2, 
July 2, 
26, 



June 2, 
July 2, 



June 6, 
Jan. 8, 



Feb. 9, 
June 17, 
July 2, 
June 2, 
July 2, 
July 2, 



865 



864 
863 



865 



864 
865 



862 
863 



862 



863 



863 
864 
863 
863 



S63 
S62 



865 
863 



863 

S63 



864 
S65 
863 
S65 
S63 



2l6 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



LIST OF MEDFORD MEN, ETC. COntilllted. 



Names. 



Enlisted 
for 



Reg't. 



Co. 



Mustered in. 



Mustered 
out. 



Hoyt, lMo>;es C 
Hubbell, Joseph P. 
Hunter, Matthew 
Hutchins, John 

Ireland, Henry A. 
Ireland, Edward 
Ireland, Edwin 
Isaacs, Joseph . 



James, John 
James, Thomas 
Jepson, Samuel G 
Johnson, John . 
Johnson, Samuel S, 
Johnson, Thomas 
Johnson. Andrew 
Jones, Thomas 
Jones, Abel . 
Jones, William E. 
Joyce, Alfred . 
Joyce, Samuel W. 
Joyce, Winslow 
Joyce, Henry S. 



Keene, Atwell C. 
Keen, George M 
Kelly, Richard . 
Kendrick, Coleman C 
Kenrick, Edwin F, 
Kent, Charles F 
Kidder, Winslow L 
Kimball, George N. 
Kimball, Isaiah W. 
Kidder, Francis H. 

Lander, Francis A. 
Lahey, William 
Latta, David . . 
Lawrence, William 
Lawrence, Samuel C 
Lee, Lyman N. 
Lee, Lyman N. 
Lee, William H. . 
Learnard, William E 
Leonard, Michael . 
Lewis, Joseph . 
Lewis, George H. 
Lewis, Galen J. . 
Linsburg, Samuel . 
Litchfield, Otis V. 
Litchfield, J V. . 
Livingston, Robert 
Locke, James 1). . 
Looney, Timothy . 
Lord, Stephen . 
Lord, Warren L. . 
Lord, Lewis . . 



Mace, John H. 
Mahoney, John 
Mahoney, Timothy 
Manning, John A. 
Martin, Curtis L. . 
Mason, Edwin H. 
Massaheno, Romonode 
Matthews, Ebenezer 15. 



3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 

3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
I year 

9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 

9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 



39th 
39th 

Navy 
39th 

39th 
39lh 
3yth 
4th H.A. 

5th 
17th 
39th 
39th 

I St 

Navy 
Navy 
Navy 
I St Cav. 
5th 
39th 
39th 
39th 
39th 

5th 
17th 

5th Cav. 
39th 
39th 
14th 



C 
C 
C 
K 

F 

K 

C 

C 

Battery 



A 
F 
C 
C 
C 
C 

F 
K 
C 
C 
C 
Battery 



9 months 
9 months 
100 days 

9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 months 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 

2 years 

3 years 

9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
9 months 
9 months 
3 years 



5th 
5th 



5th 
28th 
28th 

5th 

5th 

5th 

2d HA. 

5th Cav. 
40th 
19th 
39th 
17th 
24 th 

Navy 
39th 

5th 
39th 

Sth 

5th 

5th 



1 year 

2 years 

3 years 
3 years 
3 years 

9 months 
3 years 
9 months 



4th H.A 

Navy 
15th 
39th 
14'h 

5I" 
39th 

5th 



K 



Battery 

Battery 
F 
C 
F 



Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 



May 15, 1865 



Aug. 14, 1862 

Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1S62 
Aug. 18, 1864 

Sept. 23, 1862 
July 22, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Jan. 9, 1864 
Aug. 28, 1861 



June 2,^865 



June 29, 1865 
June 17, 1865 

July 2, 1863 
May 28, 1865 
June 2, 1865 

Aug. 29, 1864 



Sept. 12, 1861 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

Sept. 23, 1862 
Feb. 13, 1862 
May 21, 1864 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Feb. 27, 1864 



Oct. 24, 1864 
July 2, 1863 



June 7, 1865 
June 2, 1865 

June 6, 1863 
Jan. 4, 1864 
June 20, 1864 

June 2, 1865 



Sept. 23, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1S62 



July 2, 1863 
July 2, 1863 



Sept. 23, 1862 
Dec. 13, 1861 
April 5, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 
May I, 1 861 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Dec. 24, 1863 
May 28, 1864 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1861 
July 13, 1863 
July 22, 1861 
Sept. 25, 1861 



July 2, 1863 



July 2, 1863 
July I, 1861 
July 2, 1863 



Dec. 24, 1862 



Jan. 4, 1864 



Aug. 14, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. 6, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
-Sept. 23, 1862 
May 24, i85i 



June 2, 1865 
July 2, 1863 

July 2, 1863 

July 2, 1863 
May 25, 1864 



Aug. 18, 1864 June 17, 1865 



Feb. 17, 1863 
Aug. 14, 1S62 
Feb. 27, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Jan. 14, 1804 
Sept. 23, 1S62 



June 2, 1865 
June 15, 1865 
July 2, 1863 

July 2, 1863 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 21/ 

LIST OF MEDFORD MEN, ETC. — COIltiimed. 



Enlisted \ 
for 



Reg't. 



Co. 



I Mustered in. 



Muste 
out 



McAnney, Charles . 
McAlear, James . . 
McArthiir, Archibald 
McDonald, Jaine!. 
McGillicuddy, Daniel 
McCiillicuddy, James 
McKenney, Andrew 
McLellan, William B 
McLean, Joseph . 
McN'abb, Thomas 
McN'amara. Barnard 
Means, George W, 
Mealey, Philip J. , 
Mc-ston, Peter D. . 
Miller, George W. 
Miller, William . 
Miller, Peter . . 
jMills, Herman . 
Mitchell, Thomas O. 
Mitchell, Robert J. 
Moore, Charles 
Morrison, Isaac T. 
Morrison, Joseph G. 
Murphy, Cornelius 

Ness, Augustus 
Ncwcomb, D. Tyler 
Newcomb, George A 
Newton, Antipas . 
Nield, Sanuiel . . 
Noble, Daniel . 
Nolan, Dominies . 
Northey, William H. 
Norwood, George . 

O'Brien, Michael . 
O'Connel, Michael 
Oliver, Samuel K. 
Osborn, Alvin W. 
Owens, Charles 

Page, Ephraim C. . . 
Peak, Horatio N., jun. 
Peirce, F.lisha N. . 
Peterson, Niles 
Pierce, Charles E, 
Pmes, Peyton . . 
Phelan, James . . 
Poole, Charles E. . 
Powers, James AI. 
Powell, John F. . 
Prentiss, Charles H. 
Prouty, John L . 
Prouty, William H. 
Pusley, Henry . . 

Ramsdell, Emery W 
Reed, Henry F. . 
Reed, Alvm R. 
Rice, Samuel C. . 
Kich, Stillnian . . 
Richardson, Alfred 
Richardson, Charles 
Richardson, Alvcry 1 
Kiley, Michael . . 
Redman, Wallace Si 
Roberts, Miiton F. 



years 

years 

months 

months 

months 

years 

years 

year 

years 

months 

years 

years 

months 

months 

years 



5th 
Navy 
loth 

=;th 

5th 

5lh 
24th 
Navy 

4th H.A. 
39th 

5th 
17th 
3s»th 

5lh 

5rh 
Navy 



i July 23, 1862 I . 
i Sept. 23, 1862 1 July 



G I Jime 21, 1861 j Dec. 21, 

F I Sept. 23, 1S62 I . . . 

F" ; Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 

K I Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 
A Oct. 26, 1S61 I Oct. 26, 



I Aug. ]8, 1864 
I Aug. II, 1862 
I Sept. 23, 1862 
July 22, 1861 
I Aug. 14, 1862 
I Sept. 23, 1862 
I Sept. 23, 1862 



July '7. 



July 
Aug. 
June 
July 



3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 



39th 
Navy 

5th Cav. 
39th 
15 til 

2d Cav. 



Aug. 11, 1862 I June 2 



I I April 22, 1864 I . . . 

C Aug. 14, 1862 ! . . . 

Battery 1 Feb. 17, 1863 j . . . 

A I May 18, 1864 i Aug. 18; 



3 years I 20th 
9 months \ 44th 
. . . . i Navy 
6th 

isl Cav. 
17th 
28th 
39th 
28th 



Mar. s, 1864 
Sept. 12, 1862 



i 3 years 
I 3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 
I 3 years 

I I 

I 9 months 
9 months 
I 9 months 
j 3 years 1 
I 3 years \ 

9 months I 
I 9 months | 

9 months j 
! 3 years 

9 months ! 

3 years j 

3 years 
' 3 years 

9 months 

9 months 

9 months 

3 years 



3 years 

3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
1 year 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 



5th 
5th 
5th 
39th 
Navy 

5th 

5th 

5th 
Navy 

5th 

5tli Cav. 
15th 

1st Cav. 

5th 

5th 

5th 
39th 



15th 

39th 

ist Cav. 

5th 

4th H.A. 

5th 
39th 
39th 
11th 

5th 
39th 
39th 



c 

A 
A 
C 
C 

F I 
•" I 
I 



Jan. 25, 1864 April 20, 
Sept. 17, i86i I Dec. 31, 
Nov. 1 1. 1861 I . . . 
Dec. 13, 1861 I . . . 
Aug 14, 1862 I June 2. 
April 9, 1864 I . . . 



Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 

.Sept. 23, 1862 j July 2, 

Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 

Aug. 12, 1862 ; June 2, 



F Sept. 23, 1863 ! July 2, 

F I Sept. 23, 1862 j July 2, 

F j Sept. 23, 1862 ; July 2, 



F j Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 

B I Mar. 12, 1864 j Oct. 31, 

Battery j Feb. 17, 1863 j . . . 

B I Sept. 17, 1861 I . . . 

F ! Sept. 23, 1862 j July 2, 

F 1 Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 

Y 1 Sept. 2j, i8ii2 j July 2, 

^ I J"'y 51. 'Soi June 17, 



Battery 1 F'eb. 17, 1863 



July 22, 

Jan. 1, 

Sept. 23, 

Aug. 18, 

Sept. 23, 

Aug. 7, 

Aug. 6, 

Battery I Jan. 2, 

F i Sept. 23, 

C I Aug. 8, 

C I Aug. II, 



1862 j June -2, 
1864 I June 21 , 
1862 I July 2, 
1864 I July 17, 
1862 I July 2, 
1862 i July 2, 
1862 ! June 2, 
1S62 i June 16, 
1862 I July 2, 
1862 I June 9, 
1S62 1 June 2, 



863 



863 

863 
863 



863 



865 



864 
863 



86s 



863 
863 
863 
865 



863 
863 
863 



863 



863 
863 
863 
863 



865 
S65 
863 
865 
863 
865 
S65 
865 
863 
863 



2l8 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

LIST OF MEDFORD MEN, ETC. — continued. 



Names. 



Rogers, William H. 
Rugg, George J. . 

Samson, Albert A.* 
Sampson, George H. 
Sampson, Ichabod 
Sanborn, John H. 
Sanborn, Cutler D. 
Sanderson, George 
Sanderson, 'I'homas 15 
Sawyer, (ieorge 
Sears, Edward V. . 
Senter, John H. 
Seymour, Charles . 
Shannon, Jeremiah 
Sherman, Paul . . 
Shields, James . . 
Simpson, John H. 
Skuiner, George . 
Smith, Frank B. . 
Smith, Joseph . . 
Smith, hrank B. . 
Smith, Charles S. . 
Smith, Lott . . , 
Smith, tJeorge F. . 
Smith, William 
Smith, Thomas 
Smith, Jacob . 
Southworth, William 
Staples, Samuel 
Stephens, Alfred , 
Stetson, James H. 
Stevens, Samuel iM. 
Stevenson, Lewis T. 
Steward, Morton . 
Steward, Elijah 
Stiinpson, Alden M. 
Stimpson, Charles M 
Slock, Henry , 
Strong, Cyrus D. . 
Sweeney, John . . 
Swift, William H. 

Tanner, Frederick 
Tay, Francis J. . 
Taylor, William 
'feel, George M. . 
Teel, George E. . 
Thompson, Edward 
Thompson, James 
Thompson, Christian 
Thompson, George 
Tittle, William . . 
Tooney, Daniel 
Towle, James . . 
Towle, Sidney M. 
Treet, William P . 
Tufts, Augustus . 
Turner, Samuel H.,j 
Tyler, llaniel . . 

Vast, Charles . . 

Waitt, Daniel . , 
Walker, Benjamin 
Walker, William A. 
Walker, liidson . 
Walsh, John . . 



Enlisted 
for 



Reg't. 



3 years 
3 years 

3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 

3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
I year 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years . 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
I year 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
I year 
9 months 
3 years 

1 year 
3 years 

3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 

2 years j 

3 years i 
9 months 
9 months I 
9 months i 
3 years 

3 years 
9 months 

3 years 

3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 



Co. 



39th 
39th 

39th 

I St Cav. 
5th 

Navy I 

Navy I 

13th I 

4th H.A. 

391I' ! 

4th Cav. I 
5ll> i 

ist -I 

56th 

39th 
5th Cav. 
5lh ^ 
1st Cav. I 



1st Cav. 

5th Cav. 

4th H.A. 
Navy 
Navy 
Navy 
39th 
39th 

Sth 
13th 
39th 

5th Cav. 

5th Cav. 

5th Cav. 

5lh 

4th H.A. 

1st Cav. 
Navy 
Navy 

14th 
5th 
Navy 
5th 
loth 
39th 
39th 
Navy 
5th Cav. 
Navy 
Navy 
5lh 
5th 
44th 
39th 
39th 
5th 

5 th Cav. 

17th 
39th 
39lh 
5th 
39th 



c 
c 

c 

F 
F 

F 
Lt. Alt. 



C 

K 

C 

H 
Battery 
Battery 

G 

C 

K 

F 

A 
Battery 

G 

E 

K 



Mustered in 



Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

Aug. 14, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1S62 
Oct. 5, 1861 



Mustered 
out. 



May 31, 1865 

May 17, 1866 

July 2, 1863 

Oct. 16, 1864 

Sept. 23, 1862 ] July 2, 1863 



Feb. 17, 
Aug. II, 
Aug. 11, 
Feb. 8, 
Jan. 18, 
Aug. 31, 
Dec. 29, 
July. 17. 
April 12, 
Sept. 23, 
Oct. 1, 
Jan. 20, 
i Sept. 25, 
Feb. 10, 
Aug. 18, 



1862 I Jan 29, 1863 
1S64 ' June 17, 1865 
1862 [ June 2, 1865 



1864 June 12, 1865 

1861 I Oct. 19, 1864 
1864 j July 12, 1865 

1862 I r)ec. 20. 1864 
1864 I Oct. 31, 1865 
1862 '1 July 2, 1863 
i86i 1 Oct. 24, i8b4 



Battery 
F 



1861 Oct. 31, 1864 
1864 I Oct. 31, 1865 
1864 ] June 17, 1865 



Aug. 14, 1862 
Feb. 9, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 
July 16, 1 861 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Feb. 22, 1864 
JSIar. 12, 1864 
April 12, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. j8, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Sept. 23, i85i 



Feb. 27, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 



Sept. 23, 1862 
Aug. 28, i86i 
July 13, 1862 
July 22, 1S62 



Dec. 20, 1S64 
July 2, 1863 



Oct. 31, 1865 

Oct 31, 1865 

Oct. 31, 1865 

July 2, 1863 

July 17, 1S65 

July 2, i8b3 

Nov. 30, 1863 



July 



1863 



July 2, 1863 
Aug. 28, 18O4 



June 



1865 



May 21, i£ 



Sept. 23, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1 86-' 
Sept. 12, 1862 
.^ug. 14, 1862 

Aug. 14, I 8(32 

Sept. 23, 1862 
May 21, 1864 

July 22, 1861 
Aug. I, 1862 
Aug. II, 1802 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Feb. 17, 1864 



Oct. 31, 1864 



July 2, 1863 

July 2, 1863 

June 18, 1863 

Jan. 27, 1864 

June 14, 1865 

Oct. 31,186s 

Oct. 26, 1 861 
Nov. 20, 1863 
June 2, 1863 
July 2, 1863 



* Received commission as Second Lieutenant of lolh U.S. Colored Regiment, Oct. 26, 1863. 
Promoted First Lieutenant, April 27, 1864; Captain, Oct. 19, 1864. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 219 

LIST OF MEDFORD MEN, ETC. — Continued. 



Names. 



Enlisted 
for 



Reg't. 



Co. 



Mustered in. 



Mustered 
out. 



Waters, Abraham . . 
Weeks, Lewis . . . 
West, Francis . . . 
Wheeler, William N. 
White, John M. . . 
White, John 
Whitney, Jophaniis H. 
Whittaker, James L. . 
White, William H. . 
Willey, John H. . . 
Willey, Hiram . . . 
Willey, Hollis H. . . 
WiUis, Calvin W. . . 
Willis, Calvin W. . . 
Williamsoiij George W. 
Williams, Augustus . 
Wilson, Henry . . . 
Wilson. John . . . 
Wilson, John . . . 
Woolley, Lucius L. . 
Wood, Dexter T. . . 



3 years 
g months 
3 years 
9 months 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
9 months 



Zerik, James 3 years 



3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
9 months 
9 months 



3 years 
3 years 
3 years 
3 years 



2d Cav. 
2d Cav. 
39lh 
5th 

5th 
19th 
39th 
39th 

I St 

24th 

7th 
59th 

5th 
17th 

5th 
nth 
15th 
15th 
46th 

5th 

5th 

Navy 



K 
I 

K 
F 
F 

US. 

c 
c 

Battery 
B 

Vt. 
D 
F 
C 
F 

Battery 
Battery 

K 

F 

F 



Dec. 21, 1863 
April 23. 1864 
Jan. 21, 1864 
Sept. 23, 1862 
Sept. 23, 1862 
April 15, 1864 
Aug. 10, 1862 
Aug. 2$, j; 
Sept. 13. I 



July 2, 1S63 

July 2, 1863 

June 2, 1865 

Dec. 15, 1863 

Jan. 3, if 



jNIay 12, 1862 I Oct. 17, 1862 

Feb. 9, 1864 I ! '. '. '. '. 
Sept. 23, 1862 I July 2, 1863 

Nov. 28, 1S63 

Sept. 23, 1862 1 July 2, 1863 

April 29, 1864 

Feb. 17, 1863 

Feb. 17, 1863 

Feb. 25, 1864 

Sept. 23, 1862 

Sept. 23, 1S62 



July 
July 



2, It 
2, iS 




Sold ers Monume 



220 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



CHAPTER IX. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

The first inhabitants of Medford belonged to that class 
of hardy, intelligent, Christian adventurers called Puri- 
tans, who left their native England that they might here 
worship God, govern themselves according to the dictates 
of their own consciences, -and spread the truths of Chris- 
tianity among the heathen. Nobler blood never flowed in 
human veins ; and we may rejoice that we are descended 
from warrior-saints, who dared to lead where any dared 
to follow, whose souls were sanctified by Christian faith, 
whose union illustrated the natural rights of man, and 
whose characters were made glorious by a spiritual hero- 
ism. That such a people would faithfully provide for the 
worship which they had sacrificed their native homes to 
enjoy, is most natural. But they were poor, and those 
who settled in Medford did not feel able to settle a clergy- 
man for some years. Their failure to do this drew down 
upon them persecution and fines ; and here again we have 
to lament the loss of those early records which might 
explain their condition, and prove how devotedly they 
attended public worship in the neighboring towns when 
they were not able to support a minister within their own 
borders, and how, before they could pay a clergyman's 
salary without painful self-sacrifice, they made permanent 
provision for their nurture and growth in grace. 

Their Christian watchfulness and religious zeal are 
shown in the first of. the preserved records, by their una- 
mimity in requiring every one to contribute his share to 
sustain a public ministry, and in the promptness with 
which they harmonized differences between themselves 
and their pastors. 

Johnson, in his "Wonder-working Providence," says, — 

" It is as unnatural for a right New-England man to live without 
an able ministry, as for a smith to work his iron without fire ; " 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 221 

and our Medford forefathers were not an exception to that 
very truthful statement. 

We find them, in their first attempt to have constant 
preaching, agreeing to hire a preacher who should supply 
them for six months or a year, and to pay him by individ- 
ual subscriptions, while they allowed him to reside wher- 
ever his other engagements required. To save expense, 
they sometimes hired tutors from Harvard College to 
preach for them. 

In many things, the superstitions of those times appeared 
in our fathers. We find, by the public records, that on 
Oct. 21, 1658, they kept a fast " on account of God's judg- 
ments ; to wit, sickness in several families, unfavorable 
weather, and the appearance of that scourge, the Quakers." 

A note is also made of the exciting controversy, had 
in 1660, about infant baptism. Thomas Gould's case in 
Charlestown set the church in Medford in fearful ferment ; 
for the members feared that the heresy might break out at 
home, and they thought it more to be dreaded than any 
physical disease or calamity. 

The following items, touching engagements made with 
different persons to supply the people of this town with 
preaching, will be interesting to the modern reader. 

In 1692 John Hancock, the grandfather of the patriot 
of that name, consented to remain on the plantation ; and 
the town accordingly voted that " he shall be boarded at 
Mr. John Bradshaw's for the year ensuing, if he shall con- 
tinue his ministry so long among us." The usual price 
of board at that time was five shillings per week. Mr. 
Hancock's ministrations ceased in 1693 ; and the town 
secured the services of Mr. Benjamin Coleman of Harvard 
College, which they retained for some time. 

The town then invited Mr. Simon Bradstreet to become 
the permanent pastor, and the record of the action had in 
that case is as follows : — 

" Voted, That Mr. Simon Bradstreet, for his encouragement to 
settle amongst us in the work of the gospel ministry, shall have j[^^fO 
in money for annuity, with his housing and fire-wood." 

This call was not accepted. There were, at this time, 
only thirty-three male inhabitants who paid taxes on 
estates ; and the salary offered was, under the circum- 
stances, a fair one. 

In March, 1694, the town voted that the former sub- 



222 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

scription for the support of the minister should be con- 
tinued, and that the board of the minister should be five 
shillings per week ; and, if any one refused to pay his 
share of this, then the selectmen should "rate him accord- 
ing to his effects." The town's rate was "one penny in 
the pound, and twelve pence per head." Supporting the 
ministry by an equal tax on all property was the settled 
policy of our fathers, though there had been objectors to 
the plan. 

Not successful in settling a minister, the town hired 
Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge of Charlestown to preach for 
six months ; and, as his engagements in Charlestown did 
not allow him to reside in Medford, the town passed the 
following vote, Dec. 5, 1698 : — 

" Voted, That Cotton Tufts be chosen and appointed to agree with 
Mr. Joseph Squire for his horse for Mr. Woodbridge, riding from 
Charlestown to Medford every Saturday, and from Medford to 
Charlestown every Monday ; allowing said Squire two shillings per 
journey for said horse, going and coming, well-shod for said journey. 
Mr. Woodbridge also to ride said Squire's horse to meeting on the 
sabbath-days when there shall be occasion." 

Mr. Woodbridge occupied the pulpit nearly twelve years. 
During this time there was much dissatisfaction mani- 
fested, and great contention between preacher and people; 
and hence but little prosperity of the church. 

It is not worth while to enter into details. One inci- 
dent, occurring at this time, derives its importance from 
the fact that our fathers enlisted such men as Chief Jus- 
tice Sewall in their troubles. The fact is as follows : — 

"To Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge, "June 5, i-oS. 

per Lieut. Stephen Willis. 

'■'■Sir, — In your account of disbursements, given to the town of 
Medford, at their meeting, Dec. 19, 1705, your first article is, 'The 
expenses upon land, house, fencing, &c., as appears from my book, 
^249. 8.r. \d.' Now, the Committee desire to see the particulars by 
which that sum rises ; and, to that end, that you would meet them, or 
some of them, upon 'Change, presently after the Artillery Sermon 
next Monday, where we may agree of a place of recess for this 
purpose. 

" Sir, your servant, 

"Samuel Sewall." 

So tenacious was the grasp of Mr. Woodbridge on the 
pulpit of Medford, and so devoted were some hearts to 
his cause, that, after all which had happened, we find the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 223 

town, Dec. 6, 1708, voting thus : "That Mr. Wooclbridge 
be invited to preach three months on a free contribution." 
This must have been nearly a tie vote, since thirteen 
members immediately enter their protest against it. This 
probably ended Mr. Woodbridge's connection with the 
church as its preacher ; for, in the next year, Mr. John 
Tufts is a favorite, and commended for settlement. 

During the long and increasing dissension which was 
now closed, it is apparent that the town took counsel of 
wisdom and charity. They wished to give Mr. Woodbridge 
every opportunity of righting himself before the commu- 
nity, the churches, and the Government : they apprehended 
the worldly and spiritual equity of the case ; and it is 
refreshing to read their vote upon it, in the following 
beautiful words : — 

"The difference hath been as tenderly, carefully, and well managed 
as we could." 

Mr. Woodbridge died in Medford, Jan. 15, 1710, after a 
residence of nearly ten years, aged sixty-five ; and on the 
same day, with commendable promptitude and just lib- 
erality, the town voted ten pounds to defray the expenses 
of his funeral, — an act which proves that they would not 
let the sun go down upon their animosity. 

"Thursday, 19th, Mr. Woodbridge was buried. Mr. Parsons of 
Maiden preached the funeral sermon. Bearers : President (of col- 
lege) ; Mr. Hobart of Newton; Mr. Brattle; Mr. Bradstreet; Mr. 
Parsons ; Mr. Ruggles of Billericay. By reason that it was lecture- 
day, and Mr. Colman preached, and the wind very high and blustering, 
not one Boston minister was there." 

Mr. Woodbridge seems not to have lost his ministerial 
standing during his troubles in Medford, and we must 
leave to future disclosures some points which now appear 
equivocal. 

SETTLEMENT OF A PERMANENT PASTOR. 

In the Medford church, though there were differing 
opinions concerning particular preachers and concerning 
worldly means, there was a true and steady purpose in all 
hearts to have a settled pastor and teacher ; and they all 
united to hold a town-fast on the last Wednesday of April, 
1712. The record speaks of the day as one "to be solem- 
nized as a day of fasting and prayer, to humble ourselves 



224 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

before God for those divisions and contentions that hath 
been so long prevailing among us, and obstructed the 
peaceable enjoyment of gospel ordinances." They agreed 
to meet immediately after the religious exercises of the 
fast, and to ask each man to bring, on a piece of paper, 
the name of the gentleman he should prefer as his minis- 
ter, and, out of the three who had the highest number, 
to select one as the pastor. It proved that Mr. Amos 
Cheever, Mr. John Tufts, and Mr. Aaron Porter, were the 
candidates. 

The lot finally fell on the last-named gentleman. On 
the 19th of May, 1712, the town voted, with most hopeful 
unanimity, to invite Mr. Aaron Porter to become their 
minister. His salary was to be fifty-five pounds, and to 
be increased two pounds annually until it reached seventy 
pounds. To this was added the strangers' money; twenty 
cords of wood, or seven pounds. It was further provided, 
that if a part of Charlestown that lies next to Medford be 
annexed, then Mr, Porter's salary be raised ten pounds. 
It was further provided, that " the rates for Mr, Aaron 
Porter's salary be levied on polls and ratable estate, 
according to the rate of raising and levying the county 
tax," 

Mr. Porter accepted this invitation, but demanded "one 
hundred pounds as a settlement." The gift of such a sum 
to a new pastor was customary, and the Medford church 
acceded. Not being rich, the town voted to ask the aid 
of sister churches in paying this sum, 

REV. AARON PORTER. 

This gentleman was born, July 19, 1689, in Hadley, 
Mass. 

Of his ordination at Medford, Chief Justice Samuel 
Sewall gives the following account in his diary. After 
mentioning a vehement, drifting storm of snow the day 
preceding, he writes: — 

"Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1713: Mr. Aaron Porter is ordained pastor 
of the church at Meadford. Mr. An^jier, of Watertown, jjave tlie 
charge; Mr. Hancock, of Lexington, the right hand of fellowship. 
The storm foregoing hindered my son Joseph (settled the same year 
over the Old South Church in Boston) from being there. Were many 
more people there than the meeting-house could hold," 

In the autumn of the same year Mr. Porter married Su- 
sanna^ daughter of Major Stephen Sewall, Esq., of Salem, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 225-, 

and a sister of Stephen Sevvall (H. C, 1721), afterwards. 
Chief Justice. Judge Samuel, her uncle, gives the follow- 
ing account of the wedding : — 

" 1713, Oct. 22: I go to Salem ; visit Mrs. Epes, Colonel Hathorae. 
See Mr. Noyes marry Mr. Aaron Porter and Miss Susan Sewall at 
my brother's. Was a pretty deal of company present. Mr. Hirst and 
wife, Mr. Blowers (minister of Beverly), Mr. Prescot (minister of Dan- 
vers), Mr. Tuft, sen. (father of Rev. John Tufts of Newbury), Madame ■ 
Leverett (lady of Pres. Leverett), Foxcroft, Goff, Kitchen, Mr. Samuel; 
Porter, father of the bridegroom, I should have said before. Many, 
young gentlemen and gentlewomen. Mr. Noyes made a speech : said,. 
Love was the sugar to sweeten every condition in the married relation. 
Prayed once. Did all very well. After the Sack-Posset (a common 
article of entertainment at weddings), sung the 45th Psalm from the 
8th verse to the end, — five staves. I set it to Windsor tune. I had 
a very good turkey-leather Psalm-book, which I looked in, while Mr. 
Noyes read; and then I gave it to the bridegroom, saying, ' I give you 
this Psalm-book in order io yo'ir perpetuating this song; and I would 
have you pray that it may be an introduction to our singing with the 
choir above.' I lodged at Mr. Hirst's." 

We may say a word, in passing, of these customs of our 
ancestors. The psalm-book used on this occasion was the 
"New-England Version, or Bay Psalm-book." The psalm 
was "deaconed." The portion sung was ten verses, C. M. 
The first two lines were : — 

" Myrrh, aloes, and cassia's smell 
AH of thy garments had." 

The last verse, to which the judge seems to allude in 
what he said to the bridegroom as he presented the " tur- 
key-leather psalm-book," read thus : — 

" Thy name remembered I will make 
In generations all ; 
Therefore, for ever and for aye 
Thy people praise thee shall." 

The tune selected seems to us a singular one for the 
occasion. "Windsor" is a proper tune for a funeral ; but, 
for a wedding, how dull ! So thought not our ancestors. 
While they gloried in singing sprightly "York" or "St. 
David's " on Sunday, solemn " Windsor " or " Low Dutch " 
(Canterbury) was their frequent choice at weddings and 
other festal occasions. 

Mr. Porter and his wife came to Medford immediately 
after their marriage, and lived happily together. They 
were highly esteemed by their uncle, Judge Sewall, who 



226 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

frequently called on them when going to Salem and New- 
bury. His diary says : — 

•"July 28, 1714: According to my promise, I carried my daughter 
Hannah to Meadford, to visit Cousin Porter. In her mother's name, 

she presented her cousin with a red coat for her Httle Aaron, blue 
.facing, for the sleeves galoon. Cost about I2j-. zd. I carried her 
'three oranges. Gave the nurse is., maid ij-. Hannah gave the nurse 

\s. Got thither about one. Over the ferry before dark. 5J. for the 
■calash. Mr. Porter went to Salem on Monday, and was not come 
;home, though the sun scarce half an hour high, when came away. 
.Laits Deo.'''' 

"Rev. Aaron Porter was ordained as the first minister of 
-Medford, Feb. 11, 1713. His own record is as follows: — 

"May 19, 1712: The town of Medford called me, Aaron Porter, 
to serve them in the work of the ministry ; which call (after serious 
and frequent appHcation to the God of all grace) I accepted as a call 
from God. 

"Feb. II, 1713: This day was set apart as a day of fasting and 
prayer, in order to separate or ordain me to the sacred ofifice of a 
minister of the gospel. The reverend elders sent to assist in this 
solemn action were these following: scil., the Rev. Mr. Samuel An- 
gier, of Watertown ; Mr. William^Brattle, of Cambridge; Mr. John 
Hancock, of Lexington; Mr. Simon Bradstreet, of Charlestovvn; 
Mr. John Fo.x, of Woburn ; and Mr. David Parsons, of Maiden: all 
of whom (except the Rev. Mr. Wm. Brattle and Mr. John Fox, who 
at this time labored under bodily indispositions) were present, with 
other delegates of the churches. 

" The reverend elders and messengers being assembled at the 
house of Br. John Bradshaw, the first thing they did was the gather- 
ing a church ; which was done by a number of the brethren's signing 
to a covenant prepared for that purpose." 

The covenant was as follows : — 

"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending our- 
selves called of God to join together in church communion (acknowl- 
edging ourselves unworthy of such a privilege, and our inability to 
keep covenant with God, or to perform any spiritual duty, unless 
Christ shall enable thereunto), in humble dependence on free grace 
for divine assistance and acceptance, we do, in the name of Christ 
Jesus our Lord, freely covenant, and bind ourselves solemnly, in the 
presence of God himself, his holy angels, and all his servants here 
present, to serve the God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost, the only true and living God; cleaving to him, our 
chief good, and unto our Lord Jesus Christ, as our only Saviour, 
Prophet, Priest, and King of our souls in a way of gospel obedience; 
avouching the Lord to be our God, and the God of our children, 
whom we give unto him, counting it as our highest honor that the 
Lord will accept of us, and our children with us, to be his people. 
We do also give ourselves one unto another in the Lord, covenanting 
to walk together as a church of Christ in all the ways of his worship, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 22/ 

according- to the holy rules of his word; promising in brotherly love 
faithfull\''to watch ov^er one another's souls, and to submit ourselves 
to the discipline and power of Ciirist in the church, and duly to attend 
the seals and censures, or whatever ordinances Christ has commanded 
to be observed by his people, so far as the Lord by his word and spirit 
has or shall reveal unto us to be our duty ; beseeching the Lord to 
own us for his people, and delight to dwell in the midst of us. And, 
that we may keep our covenant with God, we desire to deny our- 
selves, and to depend wholly on the free mercy of God, and upon the 
merits of Jesus Christ ; and wherein we fail to wait upon him for par- 
don through his name, beseeching the Lord to own us as a church of 
Christ, and delight to abide in the midst of us. 



John Whitmore. 
John Bradshaw. 
Stephen Hall. 
Persival Hall. 
Jonathan Hall. 
Francis Whitmore. 
Thomas Willis, jun. 



"John Whitmore. 
Thomas Hall. 
Nathaniel Pierce. 
Ebenezer Brooks. 
John Francis. 
Samuel Brooks. 
Thomas Willis. 
Stephen Willis. 

"Signed Feb. ii, 1713. 

"This being done, we went to the place of public worship, where 
the Rev. Mr. Simon Bradstreet began with prayer. Prayer being 
ended, I preached from those words in First Epistle to the Corinth- 
ians iv. 2 : ' Moreover, it is required of stewards that a man be 
found faithful.' This being done, the Rev. Mr. Angler proceeded to 
ordination; Mr. Hancock, Mr. Bradstreet, and Mr. Parsons joining 
in the imposition of hands. After this, the Rev. Mr. Hancock gave 
me the right hand of fellowship. We then sung part of the i32d 
Psalm ; and so concluded with giving the blessing. 

"Thus, through the goodness of our ascended Lord and great 
Shepherd of his sheep, we see another candlestick of the Lord, and 
a light set up in it." 

" March i \ : The church being called together, they made choice 
of Brothers Thomas Willis, sen., and John Whitmore, sen., as deacons 
in the church; and they accordingly accepted. At the same time, it 
was determined that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper should be 
celebrated on the 23d of March following, and continued once in six 
weeks till otherwise determined. It was likewise agreed upon, at 
this time, that the ordinance of baptism should be aclministered, not 
only to the infants of such as are in full communion, but to the in- 
fants of such as are baptized, being neither ignorant nor scandalous, 
upon their owning the covenant pubiiclv; supposing at the same tiine 
that the persons admitted to this privilege with their children are 
under the care and watch of this church, and subject to the discipline 
of it ; and that the church may and ought at any time to call them to 
an account in case of scandal." 

July 20, 1714, Mr. Porter makes thefollowing record: — 

"The church being togetlier, some of them manifested an uneasi- 
ness, that in time past I had not, at the admission of members, read 
publicly something of what I had received from them in private ; and 



228 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

desired that, for time to come, I should make it my practice so to do. 
In compliance with which desire, I promised to ask it of all such as 
should offer themselves to us ; but could not see any rule to impose 
it as a necessary term of communion, so as to keep out such as are 
qualihed according to the gospel, merely because they cannot comply 
with this practice. It being no institution of our Saviour, all that his 
churches can do is only to desire it as an expedient, but have no 
power to command it, or, for want of it, to deny the communion to 
any that are qualified, and regularly seek for it. 

" At the same time, I proposed to the church that an handy-vote 
should not be demanded or expected at the admission of members; 
but that (liberty of objecting being first given) their silence should be 
taken for consent ; with which the church concurred." 

At this time it was voted by the church, that, — 

" Such members of other churches as come to reside among us, 
with a desire to continue with us, should be required to obtain a 
recommendation from the churches they came from, and so ]nit them- 
selves under the watch of the church in this place; and if they 
refuse to do so within one year after their coming among us, without 
giving the church a satisfactory reason for their neglect, they shall be 
denied the privilege of members here." 

Jan. 4, 1714: It was voted "that such persons as shall 
read the psalm in the meeting-house shall sit in the 
deacon's seat." 

May 17, 1721 : The town passed the following vote: — 

" To invite Mr. John Tufts of Charlestown, to sit at the table in 
our meeting-house; and also his wife to sit m Captain Tufts's pew, by 
his consent." 

Aug. 2, 1721 : "At a church-meeting, Thomas Willis, 
jun., was chosen a deacon for this church." 

There are no records of marriages or funerals during 
the ministry of Mr. Porter. He baptized one hundred 
and twelve persons, and admitted twenty-six to the church. 

The ministry of Mr. Porter continued about nine years; 
and then, at the age of thirty-three years, he was called to 
the higher life, Jan. 23, 1722. 

There is but little on record with reference to his sick- 
ness and decease, which is much to be regretted ; but we 
bring to these pages a few items that are worth preserving. 

"1722, Jan. 23: The reverend minister of Meadford dies, Mr. 
Porter, which married Unkle Sewall's daughter."' — ^S'. SeioalFs MS. 

"1722, midweek, Jan. 24: Just about sunset, Mr. Brattle told me 
that Mr. Aaron Porter, the desirable pastor of the church in Mead- 
ford, was dead of a fever, which much grieved me." — J udi^e Sewall's 
yournal. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 229 

In the burying-grouncl is a marble slab with this inscrip- 
tion : " Sacred to the memory of Rev. Aaroi Porter, the 
first settled minister of Mcdford'' 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. EBENEZER TURELL. 

June 18, 1722, by the advice of the President and Fel- 
lows of Harvard College, the town held a fast to seek 
divine guidance in procuring a minister ; and Rev. Messrs". 
Colman, Fox, Hancock, Brown, and Appleton were invited 
to conduct the religious exercises. 

But although the inhabitants of Medford took immedi- 
ate action to settle another minister, their efforts were not 
at first crowned with success. They made choice of Mr. 
Leonard, and afterwards of Mr. Dexter ; but they both de- 
clined to accept, and not until the 17th of June, 1724, did 
they agree upon a man who was ready to become their 
pastor. On that day, set apart as a preparatory fast, after 
a sermon by Rev. Mr. Colman, they proceeded to vote for 
a pastor, and elected unanimously the Rev. Ebenezer 
Turell. 

His salary was to be ninety pounds a year ; and they 
were to give him, as a settlement, a hundred pounds. He 
was also to have paid to him semi-annually the full amount 
of strangers' money. To this invitation, Mr. Turell re- 
turned an answer on the 31st of August, 1724, of which 
the following is the concluding paragraph : — 

" And now I commend you all unto the divine grace, conduct, and 
blessing, entreating that the God of peace and of love would dwell 
among you; that his glorious kingdom maybe advanced in and by 
you; that the Father of lights and of mercy would bestow upon you 
every good and every perifect gift ; that in this world you may live a 
life of faith and holiness, and at last stand perfect and complete in the 
whole will of God, obtaining the reward of your faithful services, 
even a crown of glory that shall never fade away, through Jesus Christ. 
Amen. Yours to serve, 

" E. Turell." 

The people felt somewhat straitened by the terms pro- 
posed by Mr. Turell ; but, knowing his great worth, they 
did not hesitate. On the 19th of September, 1724, his 
answer was considered, accepted, and fully complied with 
by the church and town. Twenty pounds were voted to 
defray the expenses of the ordination, and ten pounds 
voted as additional salary, making it one hundred pounds 
per annum. 



230 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The record of his ordination we have in Mr. Turell's 
own hand, thus : — 

"Nov. 25, 1724: This day was set apart as a day of fasting and 
prayer, in order to separate and ordain me to the ministerial office. 
The reverend elders sent to assist in the solemn action were the fol- 
lowing: viz., the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, the Rev. Air. John Han- 
cock, the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Colman, the Rev. Mr. Simon Bradstreet, 
the Rev. Mr. Richard Brown, the Rev. Mr. John Fox, the Rev. Mr. 
Nathaniel Appleton, the Rev. Mr. William Cooper, the Rev. Mr. 
Joshua Gee, tlie Rev. Mr. Joseph Emerson, and the Rev. Mr. Hull 
Abbot. Four of these reverend elders were absent ; scil., the Rev. 
Dr. C. Mather, the Rev. S. Bradstreet, the Rev. R. Brown, and the 
Rev. J. Fo.x. The rest, being present, at the house of brother John 
Bradshaw, formed themselves into a council, and, having distributed 
the several parts of the work, went to the place of public worship, 
where the Rev. Mr. William Cooper began with prayer. Prayer being 
ended, the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Colman preached an excellent sermon 
from these words. Second Corinthians iv. i: 'We, then, as workers 
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of 
God in vain.' This being done, the Rev. Mr. Hancock proceeded to 
ordination, — Mr. Colman, Mr. Appleton, and Mr. Cooper joining in 
the imposition of hands. After this, the Rev. Mr. Appleton gave me 
the right hand of fellowship. We then sung the first part of the sixty- 
eighth Psalm ; and so concluded with giving the blessing." 

Thus Medford was provided with its second minister; 
and all prospects seemed auspicious. Very few events of 
an extraordinary character occurred in the ministry of Mr. 
Turell. 

In order to procure the privilege of Christian baptism 
for their children, parents who were not members of the 
church were required to "own the covenant," as it was 
called ; that is, they stood up in the midst of the congre- 
gation, on Sunday, and the minister asked them if they 
believed the Bible to be the word of God, and would prom- 
ise to take it as their rule of faith and practice. If they 
answered affirmatively, then he administered baptism to 
them or their children. This order, called the Jialf-ivay 
covenant, was established in the Medford church in Mr. 
Porter's ministry, and was re-affirmed Dec. 2, 1724. 

"Mr. Thomas Hall was chosen deacon, 1726." 

"June 18, 1731 : Mr. Benjamin Willis was chosen dea- 
con in the room of Brother Thomas Willis, deceased." 

It appears from the church records, that some members 
wished a more definite rule and searching scrutiny respect- 
ing the admission of commimicants, and therefore revived 
the idea of a "hand-vote" in the church on each case. 
This was discussed in a special meeting ; and the record 
says : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 23 1 

"April 8, 1743: Benjamin Tufts's petition considered, and his 
request denied for a handy-vote." 

Nov. 30, 1744, the subject was again discussed, and a 
different result reached. The vote of July 20, 17 14, abol- 
ishing the hand-vote, was modified thus: Voted "that the 
reverend pastor be desired to call for an handy-vote at 
the admission of members for the future, excepting when 
the persons to be admitted plead that they are in opinion 
or judgment for a silential vote." 

'•May 9, 1755: Brothers Samuel Brooks and Jonathan Bradshaw 
were chosen deacons, unanimously. Samuel Brooks, Esq., declined ; 
Brother Bradshaw accepted. 

"Aug. 31, 1755: Received a folio Bible from the Hon. T. Royal, 
and voted thanks. 

" 1759: Voted to read the Scriptures in the congregation." 

It would seem from this last-named vote that previously 
the Scriptures had not been read in church ; a very won- 
derful thing, in view of what we have learned of the piety 
of the early settlers of Medford, and their high regard for 
the Holy Book. 

Later, a change was made in hymn-books. 

" March 7, 1763 : Deacon Benjamin Willis, Deacon Jonathan Brad- 
shaw, Deacon Ebenezer Brooks, Dr. Simon Tufts, Captain Caleb 
Brooks, Stephen Hall, Esq., Samuel Brooks, Esq., Mr. Samuel An- 
gier, and Mr. Hugh P'loyd were chosen a committee to treat with 
Rev. Mr. Turell, relating to the singing of Tate and Brady's Version 
of the Psalms in the congregation, instead of the common version 
now sung, and are to make report at tiie next May meeting." 

This committee report to resign Dunster's version, and 
to adopt Tate and Brady's. 

At the above meeting, a committee was chosen to pre- 
pare a place for all the singers to sit together in the meet- 
ing-house ; the chorister choosing the singers, and "the 
selectmen approbating them." 

"Sept. 3, 1767: At a church meeting, the brethren unanimously 
agreed to sing Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate's version of the Psalms in the 
forenoon of the Lord's Day (only), and the New England version in 
the afternoon, for six months ; and, if no objection sliall be made to 
it, then to sing Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate's version for the future." 

"April 17, 176S: No objection being made, we began this day to 
sing them." 

The following facts, gathered from various sources, are 
interesting, as they show us the ideas and conduct of our 
fathers. 



232 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

April 26, 1730: Mr. Turell preached a sensible and 
timely discourse in favor of inoculation for the smallpox. 

Aug. 7, 1730: Catechism day, Friday, Mr. Turell 
preached a sermon to the children, after he had questioned 
each one from the catechism. This annual exercise, or 
rather annual fright, served to recommend religion to the 
young much as a dose of medicine foreshadowed health. 

"March 5, 1739: Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Mr. John 
Willis, and Mr. Jonathan Watson, chosen a committee 
to report what is necessary to be done to Mr. Turell's 
fences." 

When the Rev. George Whitefield of England came to 
this country as a missionary of the cross, to wake up the 
dead churches, and pour the breath of life into the clergy, 
he spoke as one who had authority to blow the trumpet of 
doom. He returned to England, in 1741, for a visit, but 
left behind him followers who had neither his wisdom, his 
eloquence, nor his piety. Against these preachers many 
good men arrayed themselves, and Mr. Turell among the 
rest. Republished, 1742, a pamphlet called "A Direction 
to my People in Relation to the Present Times." In this 
book, he calls on his people to distinguish between the 
fervors of their excited imaginations and the still small 
voice of God's effectual grace ; he also cautions them 
against believing in multitudinous meetings as the best 
places for true gospel learning and Christian piety ; he 
furthermore suggests the expediency of not narrating their 
religious experiences, for fear that spiritual pride will take 
the place of humility ; he openly blames those preachers 
who travel about, and, without being asked, go and act the 
bishop in other men's dioceses. In this pamphlet, Mr. 
Turell names " thirteen particulars;" or, in other words, 
objections to the "new-light movement." The censorious 
spirit ; the representing assurance to be the essence of 
saving faith, and that, without this assurance, none should 
come to the Lord's table ; the false witness of the Spirit ; 
the insecurity of dreams, spiritual visions, and impulses ; 
preaching without study ; esteeming unconverted minis- 
ters as useless ; the preaching and praying of women in 
public ; the want of decent order in public worship ; the 
over-estimate of sudden light and comfort in the soul ; and 
the singing of unauthorized hymns in unauthorized places, 
— all these are spoken of as objectionable features in the 
Whitefield regenerating processes. Mr. Turell expresses 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 233 

an ardent zeal in every true work of God's Spirit, and as 
jealous a caution against every counterfeit work. It is 
very clear that the revival times woke up the slumbering 
energies of the Medford preacher, and caused him to think 
and write and preach and print better than he had ever 
done before. 

His pamphlet called out a sharp and well-reasoned 
answer, under this title: "A Letter from the Rev. Mr. 
Croswell to the Rev. Mr. Turell, in answer to his Direction 
to his People. Boston, 1742." He takes up the several 
"particulars" in order, and, in many of them, demolishes 
Mr. Turell's conclusions ; while, in others, he is mastered 
by superior force. Where Mr. Turell objects to ministers 
preaching without notes, Mr. Croswell replies, and says, 
"The more any of us improve in the divine life, the less 
paper \NQ shall want in order to preach the gospel." Mr. 
Croswell concludes his reply with these words : — 

" I look upon your little pamphlet to be more infectious and poison- 
ous than the French prophets, ' the trial of Mr. Whitefield's spirit,' or 
any other pamphlet of this kind we have been infected with. That 
God may grant repentance to you for writing it, and to others for 
spreading it abroad, especially to ministers who have given them 
about in their own parishes, is the hearty prayer of your well-wisher 
and humble servant, Andrew Croswell." 

This attack and others moved Mr. Turell to further ex- 
pressions of opinion ; and he published, in 1742, another 
pamphlet entitled, — 

" Mr. Turell's Dialogue between a Minister and his Neighbor about 
the Times. To which is added, An Answ^er to Mr. John Lee's Re- 
marks on a Passage in the Preface of his Direction to his People," etc. 

This pamphlet is written with more care than the first, 
and in a sweeter spirit. The Neighbor is made to ask all 
the important questions touching the great issues then 
before the community, and the Minister sets himself to 
answer methodically every inquiry. 

He defines what is a true work of God's grace, and what 
are the proofs of it, and then contrasts that work with the 
counterfeit exhibitions. Speaking of the mental agonies 
of some persons under conviction, he says, "Distraction, 
or a deprivation of reason, is far from being serviceable to 
religion." 

Speaking of the importance which some, in those times, 
were attaching to dreams, visions, and impulses, he said, — 



234 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

" I have shown my dislike of them, because all such things evi- 
dentl}' lead us from the word of God, the only rule by whicli we can 
judge of this work or of our own state. . . . We are safe while we ad- 
here to it ; but we know not into whose hands we fall when we give 
heed to fancies and impressions." 

Of screamings and rapturous manifestations during wor- 
ships he said, " Satan gets possession by the senses and 
passions ; Christ, by the understanding." 

He wrote in that pamphlet with much warmth against 
itinerant preachers going, unasked, to hold meetings in 
other ministers' parishes. Against the public preaching 
of women, he quotes those emphatic texts of St. Paul ; and 
against " hymns of human 'composition " is very severe. 
He does not speak ill of our poet-laureate of the Church, 
Dr. Watts ; but thinks that " mere human composures " 
may introduce heresy. He ends thus : — 

"Be not offended at these things, or prejudiced against the ^'^w//- 
ine work of God, from disorders and irregularities that arise among 
us : be sure to put in for a share of the spiritual blessings, so liberally 
bestowed at this day. Give yourself to prayer, to reading and hearing 
the word, to meditation, self-examination ; and let nothing satisfy you 
short of a whole Christ, and a whole salvation. The grace of the 
Lord Jesus be with you." 

Feb. 5, 1743 : Mr. Turell preached a strong sermon 
against the Separatists, from Isa. xlix. 4. William Hall 
and wife walked out of the meeting-house during the deliv- 
ery of the sermon ; whereupon Mr. Turell, before the con- 
gregation, immediately pronounced Mrs. Hall a Separatist. 

This item of history discloses two facts, — first, that 
there were preachers in those days who were not afraid to 
speak as they thought ; and secondly, that there were men 
and women in the pews who did not pin their faith on 
what the clergyman said, but thought for themselves. 

Against witchcraft, Mr. Turell wrote some pointed and 
very sensible things ; among which was the following, 
found in the introduction to a pamphlet of his : — 

"Although I am as f&r as any one from holding or maintaining the 
doctrine of the Sadducees, and firmly believe the existence of spirits, 
an invisible world, and particularly the asjency of Satan and his insU'U- 
ments in afflicting and tormenting tlie children of men (when permitted 
by God); yet I fear the world has ijcen wretchedly imposed upon by 
relations of such matters. Tricks and legerdemain have been fathered 
upon Satan, and others falsely reputed as being in covenant with him, 
by ignorant and desiL;;ning people, in which they were not so immedi- 
ately concerned. Rlany things have been dubbed witchcraft, and 
called the works of the Devil, which were nothing more than the con- 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 235 

trivances of the children of men, who are wise to do evil, and who, 
upon strict examination, might have been detected. There are some 
books in the world, tilled with stories of witchcrafts, apparitions, 
haunted houses, &c., to which we owe no more faith than to the tales 
of fairies and other idle romances. 

"... When I consider this, and what every one owes to his own 
generation and to posterity, I reckon myself obliged to offer a story, 
full of remarkable circumstances, which was the subject of much dis- 
course and debate in the day of it, and has lately, by the wonderful 
providence of God and his most powerful mercy, been brought to 
light, and unfolded. I trust it may be of some service to the world, 
and therefore commend it to the divine blessing." 

The story was of two sisters, who, strange to say, wished 
to be considered witches, and who were sufficiently suc- 
cessful in feints and falsehoods to gain general credence 
of their claim. They lived at Littleton, and after being 
discovered, refuted, and exposed, came to Medford. Here 
they conducted well, and all witchery was over. Sept. 14, 

1728, the eldest, E h, asked admission to the church. 

Her history was not known, and she was "propounded." 
The next Sunday Mr. Turell preached on lying ; and so 
graphically did he depict her former habits in this respect, 
that she was conscience-smitten, and came to him immedi- 
ately, and made confession of the whole. Her narrative is 
very interesting, and her penitence seemed to be sincere. 
Mr. Turell required her to make public confession of her 
sin before the church, and then to refer her case to the 
brethren. She made the public confession, assuring them 
of her sincere repentance, and her resolution to walk worth- 
ily of the holy vocation she now promised to adopt. The 
church believed in her sincerity ; and she was admitted to 
full communion, and proved herself a humble, devout, and 
accepted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

At the close of the pamphlet, Mr. Turell gave two pages 
of excellent counsel to the churches, to parents and chil- 
dren, and to all very susceptible temperaments. Among 
other things, he said, — 

"Truth is the food of an immortal soul. Feed not any longer on 
the fabulous husks of falsehood. Never use any of the l3evirs play- 
things. The horse-shoe is a vain thing, and has no natural tendency 
to keep off witches or evil spirits. Be warned against all such trading 
with the Devil." 

From 1730 to 1750, there were, on an average, from 
twenty-five to thirty baptisms in each year, and from ten to 
twenty persons annually joined the church. 



236 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

On one occasion Mr. Turell was preaching on the sin of 
selfishness ; and after designating certain people, he said, 
with more directness than rhetorical polish, " They are 
so selfish, that, if their neighbor's barn was on fire, they 
would not lift a finger to extinguish the flames, if they 
could only roast their own apples." 

It was said that he enjoyed in many social gatherings 
the following anecdote, in which he was personally in- 
terested : — 

" It was reported that Mr. Whitefield was to preach in Medford 
the next sabbath. A man from Maiden came, and took his seat in the 
meeting-house. He thought he was listening to the wonderful preacher, 
and went into corresponding raptures. For a week he praised 'the 
unparalleled,' and then learned that he had listened to Mr. Turell." 

Mr. Turell greatly disliked the religious methods and 
manners of Mr. Whitefield ; and when that preacher died, 
he gave a sermon in regard to him from the text, "Verily 
every man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity." 

In 1772, age and infirmities having shown themselves 
in growing weakness, the town voted £,^^0 to supply the 
pulpit a portion of the time; and in 1773 it was voted 
unanimously to give him as salary £,66. \'^s. /[d. annually 
while he should remain in town, regardless of his ability 
to perform the functions of his office. In 1774 he had a 
colleague, on whom the burden of pastoral work devolved ; 
and Dec. 5, 1778, he passed to his immortality. He was 
buried on the 8th of the same month ; and in the report 
then made of the proceedings at the funeral, we learn 
that " Mr. Lawrence prayed ; the president of Harvard 
College, Rev. Mr. Gushing, Rev. Mr. Clark, and Rev. Mr. 
Woodward bore the pall." The following Sunday Mr. 
Osgood preached a funeral sermon to a large congregation, 
in which the many excellent qualities of the deceased were 
clearly set forth.' 

The system of "exchanges," by which neighboring min- 
isters preached in each other's pulpits, was in full activity 
during Mr. Turell's ministry; and the Medford church was 
instructed occasionally by Rev. Messrs. Colman, Cooper, 
Gardner, and Byles of Boston ; Prince, Warren, and Clapp 
of Cambridge ; Stimson of Charlestown ; Coolidge of 
Watertown ; Flagg of Woburn ; Lowell and Tufts of 

' A fine portrait of Mr. Turell, in the flowing wig so usually worn by elderly 
ministers, is now in the possession of the First Church, and may be seen in the 
vestry. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 237 

Newbury ; Parkman of Westbury ; Parsons of Bradford ; 
and many more. This wide connection in ministerial 
brotherhood shows Mr. Turell to have enjoyed the respect 
and esteem of the clergy, as well as the approbation and 
confidence of the churches. President Allen, in his Bio- 
graphical Dictionary, speaks of him thus : — 

" He was an eminent preacher, of a ready invention, a correct 
judgment, and fervent devotion, who delivered divine truth with ani- 
mation, and maintained discipline in his church with boldness tempered 
by prudence." 

During his ministry in Medford he baptized 1,037 P^^" 
sons, married 220 couples, and admitted to the church 323 
communicants. 

His ministry gave contentment, joy, and satisfaction to 
his people ; and its epochs came, ripened, and passed by 
like the seasons, which leave behind them growth, blos- 
soms, and fruitage. 

His printed compositions are few. We have seen his 
biographical notice of his first wife, Mrs. Jane Colman 
Turell ; and it gives evidence of his just appreciation of a 
most interesting woman in the family, and a pious member 
of the church. His sketch of his father-in-law, Dr. Col- 
man, is a labored and successful eulogy of every quality 
in the deceased which could ornament a man, or sanctify 
a preacher, 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. DAVID OSGOOD. 

The third minister of Medford was born in the south- 
west part of Andover, within half a mile of the Tewksbury 
line. His father, Capt. Isaac Osgood, who lived to an 
advanced age, was born upon and occupied the same farm 
which had been owned and cultivated by his father before 
him, Mr. Stephen Osgood, who belonged originally to the 
North Parish in Andover, David, the oldest of Capt, 
Isaac Osgood's four sons, was born October, 1747. His 
mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Flint, and she was 
the daughter of a respectable farmer in the neighboring 
town of Reading. David worked on the farm with his 
father till he was nineteen years old. He taught school 
to obtain the means wherewith to enter college, which he 
did at Harvard when he was twenty. He sustained a high 
rank in his class. His predilections for the ministry had 
alway been dominant ; and, immediately after his gradua- 



238 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

tion, he commenced the study of divinity, residing part of 
his time in Cambridge, and part in Andover. 

On March 10, 1774, the town of Medford voted to hear 
him as a candidate for settlement as colleague pastor with 
Rev. Mr. Turell then living. His preaching pleased them; 
and on the i8th of April he was called to that position, by 
a vote of ^\yXy yeas and six nays. 

Those who voted nay, holding Arminian views, did not 
like his Calvinistic interpretation, and manfully wrote to 
him, explaining the cause of their opposition. 

Young Mr. Osgood wisely considered the gravity of the 
situation, and wrote to the church, saying, "The quality 
and rank of my opposers, and the great weight of their 
objections, cause me to hesitate in accepting the invita- 
tion." 

In his letter he re-asserted the doctrine of " the total 
corrujation of the human heart by nature, previous to 
renovating grace, as a cardinal point in revealed religion." 
This made the opposition of the six Arminian brethren 
still stronger; for they said that his proposition repre- 
sented "an infinitely holy God as the cause of all sin in 
his children." 

The town did not resign the hope of settling their favor- 
ite candidate. They chose a committee to consult with 
the six dissentients ; and the committee performed their 
duty kindly and faithfully, but without much success. 
June 9, 1774, the church and town renew their invitation 
to Mr. Osgood. Yeas, sixty-seven ; nays, five. Salary, 
eighty pounds (lawful money) during Mr. Turell's life, and 
ninety pounds afterwards. This call was accepted ; and at 
a church-meeting, held Aug. 16, it was decided to proceed 
with the ordination, and to invite nine churches to partici- 
pate in the same. The day fixed upon was the second 
Wednesday in September, and they voted that it should 
" be kept as a fast." 

But the opposition did not end there. 

Sept. 5, 1774, the dissatisfied brethren send a long com- 
munication to the pastor-elect, in which they apprise him 
that they have resolved to oppose his ordination ; and they 
send him a copy of statements which they intend to make. 

On the morning of the 14th of Sej-itcmber, 1774, the 
ordaining council assembled, and organized in full num- 
bers : Rev. Dr. Appleton, moderator; and Rev. Mr. Sear), 
scribe. After the usual preliminary exercises, the four dis- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 239 

sentients — Thomas Brooks, jun., Edward Brooks, Samuel 
Angier, and Joshua Simonds — presented themselves be- 
fore the council, and asked to be heard. They stated that 
they had grave reasons for opposing the ordination of Mr, 
David Osgood, and requested permission to state those 
reasons. They presented a paper to the council ; and the 
consequence was, that the entire day was painfully occu- 
pied in debating the vexed questions. It was finally voted 
by the council to listen to a sermon from Mr. Osgood 
upon the doctrine to which objection had been made ; and 
after hearing it, a vote of approval was had. Mr. Osgood 
then read his confession of faith, which concludes as 
follows : — 

" In a word, I apprehend that those doctrines specified in the 
Assembly's Catechism are, in the main, consonant to those revealed 
in the sacred oracles as fundamentals in the gospel scheme, which 
doctrines, as a Christian, I am bound to profess, and, as a preacher, 
to teach and inculcate. 

The council expressed unanimous satisfaction with the 
soundness of the candidate. The church then and there 
renewed their call, which was again accepted ; and the 
ordination went forward. The order of services was as 
follows : Introductory prayer, by Rev. Mr. Willis of Mai- 
den; sermon, by Rev. Mr. French of Andover ; ordaining 
prayer, and charge, by Rev. Dr. Appleton of Cambridge ; 
right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Cook of Cambridge ; 
concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Searl of Stoneham. 

It was, indeed, a high compliment to the "quality and 
rank of the opposers," that they induced Mr. Osgood to 
hesitate in accepting the call, as it first came to him ; and 
it appears from all the documents that the aggrieved party 
were sincere and reluctant opposers of their fellow-com- 
municants. They deemed loyalty to truth, and obedience 
to Christ, paramount to all earthly and personal considera- 
tions ; and, however many, all along the years, may have 
differed from their opinions, we at this day must accord to 
them a conscientious desire to promote the glory of God 
and the good of the church. A proof of their love' of 
peace is found in the fact, that, on the morning after the 
ordination, three of the opposers of it waited together 
upon the new pastor; when Thomas Brooks, jun., Esq., 
addressed him thus: — 

" Reverend sir, we opposed the giving you a call, and we opposed 



240 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

your ordination. We did thus from our deepest convictions of duty 
to Christ and his cluirch ; but as we have failed in all our efforts, and 
you are now to begin your ministry among us, we have come here to 
tell you that our opposition to you ceases, and that you will find us 
constant attendants on your ministrations, and ready to aid you in your 
holy work." 

The good pastor, years afterwards, gave cheerful and 
positive testimony that those gentlemen continued to be 
reconciled to the condition of things around them, and 
were among his most constant and attentive hearers. 

Mr. Osgood was a true patriot, as well as a learned and 
effective preacher. He commenced his pastorate just as 
the Revolutionary earthquake began to terrify the Colonies, 
and when politics seemed to devour all other topics. He 
early took side with the friends of freedom ; and, for many 
years during his unmarried state, did not press the town 
for his salary. The uncertain value of the old Continental 
money caused some embarrassment a few years later, but 
he bore with cheerfulness his share of the common public 
burdens. 

Mr. Osgood, as a citizen, was a lover of peace, and an 
early advocate of temperance societies. His love of coun- 
try showed itself prominently during our difficulties with 
Great Britain in 1812. His sermon at the annual election 
in 1809, that before the students of Harvard College in 
1810, and his "Solemn Protest" in 1812, prove that the 
fear of man was not before his eyes. As a Federalist of 
the old school, he felt bound to thunder his anathemas 
against the new doctrines of the national administration; 
nevertheless, many of his friends saw clearly that his offer- 
ings on the altar of patriotism burned brightly. 

As a preacher, the mind of Rev. Mr. Osgood, at a later 
period in his ministry, was not so rapid, inventive, and 
poetic in its processes, as it was clear, metaphysical, and 
practical. It was ardent, but not glowing ; free, but al- 
ways reverent ; and it excelled in illustrating and enfor- 
cing moral truth. 

To sterling Anglo-Sa.xon sense he added a vast mental 
industry ; and, had he been a poet, his power as a preacher 
would have been well-nigh doubled. Pithy and senten- 
tious apothegms were not common with him. His writings 
were not clusters of maxims ; but consecutive thought, 
expressed in pure, plain English. During the first part of 
his ministry, it seemed to be his leading aim to convince 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 24 1 

his people of the truth of his creed ; and this immersed 
him in the acute metaphysics of Edwards. In a discrimi- 
nating notice of him, written immediately after his death, 
there is the following: — 

"As a preacher he was very distinguished. His matter was copi- 
ous and sensible, and drawn, for the most part, from the moral pre- 
cepts and the undisputed doctrines of the gospel. His style was 
animated and forcible, and his manner one of the most striking which 
we have ever witnessed. His looks, his gesture, and the tones of his 
voice, were altogether peculiar to himself. Without being at all like 
those which we are accustomed to find in what is called a finished 
speaker, they were so energetic, so full of meaning, so truly eloquent, 
that they arrested and enchained the most profound and delighted 
attention. We shall never forget his patriarchal appearance in the 
pulpit." 

Another writer at the same time says, — 

" Dr. Osgood's singular excellence was in the energetic, impas- 
sioned expression of religious sentiment. When urging an important 
practical truth, his mind seemed all on fire with his theme. His tones, 
his gesture, his enthusiasm, — his inspiration, I had almost said, — 
were peculiarly his own. Hence, if he did not always satisfy by an 
argument, he seldom failed to overpower by an appeal." 

During the latter part of his life, his aim seemed rather 
to touch the hearts of his hearers with a warm piety, and 
to lead them trustingly to a divine Saviour. This change, 
however, in him was gradual. He found the noonday sun 
shining upon him at a different angle from the morning 
ray, and his own mind and heart were softer and sweeter 
than in his early ministry. 

His appearance in the sacred desk was singularly im- 
posing, especially after age had whitened his locks. He 
had a well-developed frame, a strongly marked face, a 
powerful voice, and sometimes a very animated delivery. 
Most of the sermons in the volume published after his 
death were delivered memoriter ; and, as these added 
graces cannot be found in the printed page, those ser- 
mons will not justify to after-generations the eulogy we 
have passed upon him as a preacher. 

His opinions zvere not stereotyped. His constant study 
and patient reflection extended his views of God and of 
Christ, of man and of truth. At the time of his settle- 
ment, the doctrines of Arminius, Calvin, and Hopkins 
unequally divided this communit}'. He inclined with deep- 
est conviction to the school of the learned Genevan. 

He was strongly attached to the Protestant, Congrega- 



242 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

tional order of church government, and had little love for 
Episcopacy. His " Plea for Infant Baptism " was consid- 
ered one of his ablest works. Though early biassed in 
favor of Calvinism, he would not allow himself to be a 
slave to other men's decisions. He would judge of the 
Bible for himself. We should like to have seen him in 
the situation of Rev. Marmaduke Mathews, the first min- 
ister of Maiden, in 1650, who was accused of free thinking 
and free talking; and "the General Court ordered Gov- 
ernor Endicott, in its name, to admonish him." We think 
the General Court and Governor, before they had got Dr. 
Osgood under their spiritual Juress, would have been glad 
to say, " Go thy way for this time : when we have a more 
convenient season we will call for thee." 

A gentleman who was on intimate terms with his 
daughter, the late Miss Lucy Osgood, states that she told 
him, some twenty years ago, that she heard her father say, 
in the latter part of his ministry, that if he could believe 
that from all eternity God had foreseen that a large por- 
tion of the human beings whom he created and brought 
into the world should go on sinning against him, and 
should go down to endless agony; and, foreseeing all 
this, should continue to call into existence for thousands 
of years new human beings to suffer this fate, he could not 
conceive what worse business God could have been en- 
gaged in. 

On the evening of that day when he had taken a most 
decisive stand in the stormy debates which arose in the 
council, before the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Wisnerover 
the Old South Church in Boston (1819), he proposed the 
following easy question: " Why will Mr. Wisner's creed 
be like a lighted candle.''" Auszocr. — "The longer it 
lives, the shorter it will be." His Catholicism was pro- 
verbial ; and he maintained until his death the friendly 
interchange of pulpits with both parties, after the Trini- 
tarian controversy of 18 10 had commenced. He ever 
classed himself among those called "orthodox," — that is, 
Calvinistic, — and was consistent with his profession. He 
was tolerant without religious indifference, and candid 
without forgetting his rebuke of sin. 

An anecdote relating to the same ordination will illus- 
trate the gradual change of opinion which took place with 
him in his later years. After the others of the council 
had questioned the candidate to their satisfaction, and got 



HISTORY OF BEDFORD. 243- 

from him a full expression of his views, Dr. Osgood said'' 
to him, "Young man, do you believe all this that you have 
been saying ? " — " Most certainly," was the reply. " Well, 
well," said Dr. Osgood, "if you live to be as old as I am, 
you won't believe more than half of it." 

To silence heretics by burning them was as repugnant 
to Dr. Osgood's judgment as it was abhorrent to his feel- 
ings ; yet his Catholicism was discriminating. He had no 
taste for human appendages and fanciful theories in reli- 
gion. Less sympathy still had he with those who phi- 
lologize Jesus Christ out of the Old Testament, and 
philosophize him out of the New. He was a steady ad- 
vocate of the doctrines of grace. He was neither for 
Aristotle nor Plato, neither for Paul nor Apollos, but for 
Christ. His faith in the divine authority of the Bible was 
peculiarly strong ; and he preached " Christ crucified, yea, 
RISEN AGAIN," with all the power he possessed. To state 
exactly the latitude and longitude of his theological opin- 
ions, is perhaps impossible. The nearest approach to any 
exactness may be found in a conversation he had with a 
friend in 1819. He asked, " How far is it from here to 
Andover Institution ?" and was answered, "About sev^en- 
teen miles." — "How far is it from here to the Cambridge 
Theological Institution.''" — "About four miles." — 
"Well," said he, "I have been thinking that is just about 
my theological position with regard to the two schools." 

He emphatically forbade the publication of any of his 
controversial sermons ; and in the later part of his life he 
had so modified his views of the doctrine of total deprav- 
ity, that he used in private conversation to relate a 
dream, the meaning of which may be summed up thus : 
" Men are wicked enough, but not totally depraved. Dev- 
ils only are totally evil. In hell there are no barbers' 
shops ; no devil there dare trust his throat with another : 
whereas men on earth do so trust each other safely." His 
principles of Christian toleration cannot be so well ex- 
pressed as in his own words. They are as follows : — 

" Far be it from me to censure any of my brethren, who, after an 
equally honest and impartial inquiry, think in some respects different 
from me. Conscious of my liability to err, — from the infirmities of 
nature, the prejudices of education, and the acknowledged difficulty, 
on various questions, of ascertaining the true sense of Scripture, — 
I hope never to withhold that charity from others which I claim for 
myself. 'Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind,' clearly 
implies the right of every man to read and understand the Scriptures 



244 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

for himself, with no other responsibility than to God and his own 
conscience. Each of us ought to think and judge for himself, using 
the reason which God has given us in searching and studying his 
revealed will. A mind thus independent, an understanding thus 
unfettered and unawed by uninspired names, is honorary to a Chris- 
tian, especially to a minister of Christ." 

As a pastor, Dr. Osgood was less among his flock than 
'some others ; but his labors, prayers, and Hfe were for the 
•spiritual good of his people. There are those yet living 
'who remember his kindness in seasons of sorrow ; who 
'have seen him enter their dwelling with looks of sympathy, 
.and with words that showed the wish, if not the power, to 
'Comfort ; yes, they have seen one, who to strangers ap- 
peared stern and unbending, melt into tenderness of look, 
■of voice, and of manner, in the presence of bereavement. 

Dr. Osgood suffered less from illness than most men ; 
and Tiever was a pulpit more uninterruptedly supplied by 
its occupant than his. He labored to the last week of his 
life. His dread of death was unaccountably great ; and 
through life he seemed subject to the bondage of this fear. 
But ithe angel came during a season of apparent insensi- 
bility, and dife ceased Dec. 12, 1822. Thus, at the age of 
seventy-five, closed his ministry of more than forty-eight 
years. He baptized 853 persons; married 359 couples; 
■ admitted to the church 304 communicants ; and officiated 
: at 990 funerals. 

The funeral services were on Saturday, Dec. 14. The 
prayer was offered by President Kirkland, and the sermon 
preached by Dr. Abiel Holmes from 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7. The 
pall-bearers were the Rev. Drs. Kirkland and Holmes of 
Cambridge, Ripley of Concord, Foster of Brighton, Fiske 
of West Cambridge, and Homer of Newton. 

The incidents in the history of Dr. Osgood, not men- 
tioned in the memoir, are few and unimportant. Among 
those of historic interest are the following : — 

" March 15, 1782 : At a meeting of the brethren of the church this 
day, the pastor proposed an alteration in the form of the covenant 
used at the admission of members; to which they gave their unani- 
mous consent. The form adopted is as follows : — 

"You do, in presence of the great God and this Christian assem- 
bly, profess your belief of the Holy Scriptures; that they were given 
by the inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient rule of faith and 
practice. 

"You believe the Lord Jesus Christ to be the only Mediator be- 
tween God and man, and Lord and Head of his church. Convinced 
that you are a guilty, condemned sinner, you desire to receive and 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 245 

submit to him in all those characters and offices with which he is 
invested for the benefit of the children of men. 

"You believe the Holy Spirit of God to be the Author of every 
spiritual and gracious disposition in the minds of men ; the Leader, 
Sanctifier, and Comforter of his people. Sensible of the depravity 
of the human heart, your own proneness to sin and inability to that 
which is good, you promise to seek his divine influence to form you 
to the temper of the gospel, and to make you meet for the inheritance 
of the saints in light. 

" You desire to give yourself up to God in an everlasting covenant 
never to be forgotten; to be for him, and none other; to love, serve, 
and obey him for ever. 

'•You acknowledge this to be a true church of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and promise to walk with us in a due submission to and 
attendance upon all the ordinances of the gospel: and that, relying 
upon Divine aid, you will, in your whole conversation, make it your 
serious endeavor to conduct agreeably to the rules of our holy reli- 
gion and the profession you now make. Do you thus profess and 
promise .'' " 

The salary paid to Mr. Osgood at first was not increased 
for many years, except by the annual grant of twenty 
cords of wood. 

Sept. 19, 1796: "Voted not to make him any grant, 
on account of the high prices of the necessaries of life." 

May 5, 1804, the town made the first grant of two hun- 
dred dollars, under the head of "wood money;" which 
sum was afterwards voted annually. The utmost, there- 
fore, which he ever received was $533.33. He made no 
complaint ; although the number of taxable persons in his 
parish had more than doubled during his ministry, and 
their means of payment more than quadrupled. 

Dr. Osgood kept a diary beginning Jan. i, 1777, and 
ending Dec. 5, 1822. Through this long period he re- 
corded, with marvellous brevity, the salient events of each 
day. The manuscript is preserved in his family. 

From its first settlement to 1823, Medford had been but 
one parish ; and, for the last hundred years, its two minis- 
ters experienced neither popular opposition nor social 
neglect, and the people experienced neither sectarian 
strife nor clerical domination. Claiming free thought for 
himself, and encouraging it in his people. Dr. Osgood 
brought his parish quite up to his standard of liberality 
and progress. At his death, a large majority of the na- 
tive inhabitants had quietly taken side with the Unitari- 
ans ; while many citizens, not born in the town, had as 
quietly taken side with the Trinitarians. That any creed 
could be written, or any minister elected, to suit these 



246 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

opposing parties, was the mistaken conclusion drawn at 
the time. 13oth parties were well instructed, both were 
equally sincere, and both had corresponding rights. By 
a law of the Commonwealth, any portion of a parish that 
seceded from the old society resigned and sacrificed its 
legal rights in that parish by that act. As we shall have 
several streams of ecclesiastical history to trace after this 
date, we will begin with that of the First Parish. 




REV EBENZER TURELL. 




REV. DAVID OSGOOD. 



I 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 247 



CHAPTER X. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY CONTINUED. 
THE FIRST PARISH. 

After the death of Dr. Osgood, the minds of so many 
turned to Rev. Andrew Bigelow as the next pastor, that 
the town secured his services as a candidate for settlement 
in the early part of 1823. In less than two months, the 
town voted to invite him to become the permanent minis- 
ter, by a vote of ninety-five to seventy, on a salary of eight 
hundred dollars. Two days later the church voted to 
concur with the action of the town ; and thus, in due form, 
Mr. Bigelow was invited to settle over the church in Med- 
ford as its gospel minister. The last vote stood twenty to 
three. 

On the 14th of June, seven days after said last-named 
action, Mr. Bigelow accepted this invitation by a long and 
able letter, properly noticing a condition which, at a sub- 
sequent meeting, had been coupled with the first vote of 
the town. The condition was, that either party may dis- 
solve the connection by giving si.x months' notice to that 
effect. Mr. Bigelow in his letter says, "After a painful 
view of the subject, and a strong internal conflict, my 
conclusion is to accept the invitation." 

July 9, 1823, the ecclesiastical council, invited by the 
town and church to install the pastor elect, was composed 
of the following clergymen, with delegates: President 
Kirkland, Cambridge ; Dr. Abiel Holmes, Cambridge ; 
Dr. Thaddeus Fiske, West Cambridge ; Dr. John Foster, 
Brighton ; Dr. Charles Lowell, Boston ; Rev. Francis 
Parkman, Boston ; Rev. James Walker, Charlestown ; Rev. 
Aaron Greene, Maiden; Dr. Aaron Bancroft, Worces- 
ter; Dr. Ezra Ripley, Concord; Rev. Convers Francis, 
Watertown ; and Rev. Charles Brooks, Hingham. 

The council met on this day. Rev. Dr. Ripley, moder- 



248 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

ator ; and Rev. Mr. Francis, scribe. After all the doings 
of the town and church relating to the call of Mr. Bigelovv 
had been considered, and all other requisite inquiries had 
been made and answered, the record says, — 

" It was then moved, that the council, being satisfied with the 
doini^s of the church and society, and with the literary, moral, and 
theological qualifications of the Rev. Andrew Bigelovv, do now vote 
that they are ready to proceed to installation. Before this motion 
was put, some discussion took jilace relative to the manner in which 
a dissolution of the pastoral tie (between the minister elect and 
people), should that event ever occur, should be conducted ; and it 
was objected to by some members of the council, that nothing was 
provided in the terms of settlement respecting the calling, in the above 
event, an ecclesiastical council. After this discussion, the original 
motion was so far modified as to stand as follows : — 

"Voted, that though this council deem it expedient, in ordinary 
cases, that the separation of a minister from a people be the result of 
an ecclesiastical council, yet they are so far satisfied witli the doings 
of the church and society, and with the qualifications of the candidate, 
that they are ready to proceed with the installation of the Rev. Andrew 
Bigelow as pastor of the church and congregation in this town." 

The religious exercises were in the following order: 
Introductory prayer, by Rev. Charles Brooks ; sermon, by 
Rev. Dr. Bancroft ; prayer of installation, by Rev. Dr. 
Holmes ; charge, by Rev. Dr. Ripley ; right hand of fel- 
lowship, by Rev. James Walker ; concluding prayer, by 
Rev. Convers Francis ; benediction, by the pastor. 

These several services (the prayers excepted) were pub- 
lished together by a vote of the parish. 

Mr. Bigelow was born in Groton, Mass., May 7, 1795, 
and graduated at Harvard College 18 14. After studying 
law for a short time, he turned with his whole soul to the 
study of divinity, and spent some time at Edinburgh, 
Scotland. May, 1820, he was ordained as an evangelist, 
and labored with zeal and success at Eastport, Me., and 
at Gloucester, Mass. ; from which last place he married 
Miss Amelia Sargent Stanwood. 

Coming with reputation and experience to the work of 
the ministry in Medford, he did all that could be done for 
making the divided waters mingle in peace ; but, as irrec- 
oncilable differences of opinion were developed in the con- 
gregation, it was thought best that the dissentients should 
quietly withdraw, and provide for themselves a separate 
and satisfactory ministration of the Word. 

We cannot write into this chapter all the facts touching 
this division. It was manifest in the time of the settle- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 249 

ment of Dr. Osgood, and it caused more or less ferment 
during the whole of his pastorate. It arose out of the fact 
that the primitive church in Medford was the town church. 
All the freemen of the town had a voice in its manage- 
ment, and paid a tax to help support its ministrations. 
But when the time came for an honest difference of re- 
ligious opinion in the town, those who did not agree with 
the majority did not wish to pay for preaching that con- 
flicted with their opinions ; and it was evident that the 
church first organized could not remain, as it had been for 
nearly two centuries, the only church in Medford. Sepa- 
ration was inevitable; and on the 25th of August, 1823, 
seventeen of the original church united in the following 
letter : — 

'■'■Reverend and Beloved, — It becomes our painful duty, in the 
providence of God, differing as we do in our views of tlie essential 
doctrines of the gospel from what we believe to be the views and 
preaching of the Rev. Mr. Bigelow, to separate ourselves from the 
fellowship and communion of the church with which we now stand 
connected. Under these impressions, dear brethren, we, conscien- 
tiously and in the fear of God, ask letters or a letter of dismission, 
for the purpose of forming ourselves, in a regular manner, into a new 
and separate church. 

"And, while we deeply lament the necessity which we think exists 
for such a measure, we wish to adopt it from the sole desire of enjoy- 
ing religious instructions which accord with our views of the system 
of truth laid down in the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

"Asking your prayers, brethren, that we may be guided into all 
truth, we subscribe ourselves yours in the gospel, 



'Galen James. 
Jesse Crosby. 
Thomas Jameson. 

GlLI'.ERT BlANCHARD. 

Mary Clay. 
Hepzy Fitch. 
Nancy S. Fitch. 
Mary Magoun. 
Mary Blanchard. 



Elizabeth Bayley. 
Hannah G. Rogers. 
Ann Clay. 
Mary R. Jaems. 
Mary Blanchard. 
Nan'CY Jameson. 
Hannah Crosby. 
Mary Kidder." 



The church received this short and respectful letter in 
the spirit in which it was written, and chose a committee 
of three to prepare a reply. The reply is long, argument- 
ative, and affectionate; and concluded, wdth expressions 
of deepest regret, that they should be required to accede 
to the wishes of the petitioners if they still continued to 
desire separation. Their reply showed that the request 
had been made after mature deliberation, and they were 
accordingly released from all connection with the primitive 



250 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

church of Medford. The withdrawal of many members 
of the congregation, to join the new society, occasioned a 
less amount of complaint, exasperation, and controversy 
on both sides, than might have been anticipated. 

We may not doubt that both parties had justice and 
charity in view, and wished to display the Christian graces 
in their important acts. To suppose that the strong ties 
resulting from long-continued church-membership could 
be sundered without some sharp words and angry impulses, 
would be unreasonable : but, in the case under considera- 
tion, there were no violent manifestations of the stormy 
passions ; and the agitation that was seen and felt purified 
the social atmosphere, and resulted in a more abundant 
religious fruitage. But the action had by those who with- 
drew made necessary a new organization for those who 
remained. 

"In the early history of New England, the town and parish were 
identical. But the Supreme Court of the State have repeatedly decided, 
in many similar cases, that when a second parish, or religious society, 
was formed in a town, the identity of the town and parish was ended, 
and all that portion of the inhabitants who did not unite with the new 
society became, bv the very act of separation and formation of a new 
parish, the First Parish, and as such became, without any further pro- 
ceedings, the owner of all that portion of the town property which had 
been appropriated to parochial use. All that was required on their 
part was a formal organization according to law, and for this purpose." 

On the 31st of March, 1824, ten male members of the 
"Original Parish " applied to James Russell, Esq., justice 
of the peace, to issue his warrant directing some one of 
the petitioners to notify all the legal voters of said parish 
to meet in their meeting-house, April 12, 1824, at two 
o'clock, P.M., for the purpose of electing officers, raising 
money, and doing all other necessary acts. The warrant 
was issued, and the first meeting held at the time speci- 
fied ; and Abner Bartlett, Esq., was chosen clerk ; Messrs. 
Jonathan Brooks, John Symmes, Darius Wait, Nathan 
Adams, jun., and John King, parish committee ; Messrs. 
J. Richardson, John Howe, and Ebenezer Hall, jun., 
assessors ; William Ward, Esq., treasurer. 

Thus the First Parish on this day became a separate 
body, under a legal organization, and was so named. 

On this day also, "Voted to raise the sum of one thou- 
sand dollars, to discharge the minister's salary and other 
incidental expenses, the ensuing year." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 25 1 

The following items from the First Parish records may 
be interesting to the reader : — 

"July 27, 1S23 : The Hon. Peter C. Brooks presented to the church 
two silver flagons ; for which thanks were voted." 

Sept. 3, 1824: The subject of 3. fimdior the support of 
the gospel ministry was brought up and discussed by the 
church, and the wish expressed that one may be gathered. 

July 3, 1825 : The proposition to print the church cove- 
nant, and the covenant for baptism, brought up the con- 
sideration of that adopted Feb. 11, 171 3, and that of March 
15, 1782; and the result was a vote hy the church, that 
they " do not find it needful to propose any alterations in 
their confessions of faith, either in their articles or terms. 
They conceive that the church-covenant especially com- 
bines the qualities of a true Protestant as well as gospel 
confession." 

Dr. Osgood gave by will some valuable books to the 
church, "for the use of his successors in the ministry;" 
and these are added to those received from his predecessor. 

Aug. 7, 1825 : The pastor. Rev. Mr. Bigelow, proposed 
the formation of a parish and social library, and began 
with a donation. 

Sept. 4 : The proposition above was accepted, and a com- 
mittee of five brethren of the church and six members of 
the congregation was chosen to collect subscriptions and 
receive donations. 

Nov. I, 1825 : The parish voted to procure an organ, if 
four hundred and fifty dollars can be raised by subscription 
for that purpose. Committee to procure subscriptions : 
Messrs. George W. Porter, Turell Tufts, and Darius Wait. 
The organ was purchased for the amount, and gave satis- 
faction. 

Jan. 2, 1826: Voted, that the money received from the 
sale of the new pews to be built in the gallery be the be- 
ginning of a permanent fund for the support of the ministry 
in said parish. 

In April of this year, the question arose respecting the 
right of the town to hold town-meetings in the meeting- 
house of the First Parish ; the selectmen contending for 
the right, the parish against it ; and the Supreme Court 
decided that upon the formation of the Second Parish, all 
rights of the town in property that had been held for 
parochial purposes vested in the First Parish alone. 



252 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

About this time subscriptions were commenced for the 
"Congregational Ministerial Fund for the First Parish in 
the Town of Medford." The trustees of this fund were 
afterwards incorporated, and now hold a fund amounting 
to about twenty thousand dollars. By the provisions 
of the Act of Incorporation, when the income reached three 
hundred dollars a year, two hundred dollars were to be 
appropriated to the payment of the salary of the "regu- 
larly settled and ordained minister," and the surplus to be 
added to the principal, and so on, adding to the principal 
each year not less than a hundred dollars, nor more than 
two hundred dollars, until the income reached a thousand 
dollars, when the whole income might be so applied. 

On the 9th of July and the 29th of October, 1826, the 
Rev. Andrew Bigelow preached sermons containing his 
reasons for giving the six-months' notice previous to his 
dissolving his pastoral relations. Nov. 6, of the same year, 
he wrote a letter to his parish repeating, — 

"That it was from no decay of attachment to the people 
of his charge, or of earnestness of desire to be instrumen- 
tal in promoting the interests of piety and vital religion 
among them," that he had taken this step. And he said, — 

" But being about to leave this country on a distant voyage, in the 
hope of fully re-establishing my health, I should be pleased to know 
the mind of the parish in respect to the mode of supplying the pulpit, 
and to obtain their concurrence to my proposed absence, prior to the 
e.xpiration of the time of my connection with them as pastor. . . . And, 
should they come together, I beg you to present them the renewed 
assurances of my most grateful recollection of their past favors to me, 
along with my fervent aspirations that grace, mercy, and peace maybe 
multiplied to them all." 

His request was immediately granted ; whereupon a 
reply was sent to him by the unanimous vote of the parish, 
in which his relinquishment of office was regretted, and 
these were some of its words : — * 

"We bear you witness, that, with true^ Christian forbearance and 
professional integrity, you have had your walk and conversation among 
us from the beginning, and that you have been the minister of much 
good to this people. ... In taking leave of you, Rev. Sir, we would 
most heartily reciprocate the sentiments expressed in your farewell 
discourse for our future prosperity and happiness." 

"Voted, that the Committee be directed to request of Mr. Bigelow 
a copy of the two discourses mentioned in his communication, as 
delivered on the 9th of July and 29th of October last, to be deposited 
among the parish records." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 253 

Mr. Bigelow's connection with the parish legally ceased 
Jan. 9, 1827. Returning from Europe with recovered 
health, he became the minister of the Unitarian society in 
Taunton, Mass., April 10, 1833, where he labored for many 
years. 

His successor in Medford wrote of him as follows : — 

"My regard to his feelings need not prevent my l)earing testimony 
to the deep regret of his people that any circumstances should, in his 
opinion, have made a separation from them desirable. He left behind 
him many aching hearts, and many warm friends, who will not forget 
how he labored among them as 'a good minister of Jesus Christ' in 
all faithfulness and love." 

Mr. Bigelow baptized 66 persons ; married 37 couples ; 
officiated at 105 funerals ; and admitted 26 communicants 
to the church. 

In November or December, 1826, the parish committee 
engaged Mr. Caleb Stetson, a graduate of Harvard Col- 
lege in 1822, to preach five Sundays as a candidate. Jan. 
8, 1827, the following record was made by the clerk of the 
parish : — 

"Voted unanimously to give Mr. Caleb Stetson an inv-itation to 
settle with us as our minister in the gospel. 

"Voted unanimously to give Mr. Stetson one thousand dollars 
salary. 

"Voted to give Mr. Stetson one thousand dollars over and above 
his salary, to be paid on the day of his settlement with us ; which sum 
has been raised by subscription for that purpose." 

SETTLEMENT OF MR. CALEB STETSON. 

Jan. 16 Mr. Stetson accepted the invitation, and on the* 
28th of February, 1827, was ordained. 

In the organization of the council. Rev. President Kirk- 
land was chosen moderator ; and Rev. Charles Brooks, 
scribe. After the usual religious services, the council 
examined the doings of the church and congregation rela- 
tive to the dissolution of the pastoral relation of Rev. 
Andrew Bigelow, and found them regular. They next 
examined the doings of the church and congregation rela- 
tive to the call of Mr. Stetson, and found them satisfac- 
tory ; whereupon they voted to proceed to ordination. The 
services were assigned as follows : Introductory prayer and 
reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Charles Briggs ; sermon, 
by Rev. Convers Francis ; ordaining prayer, by Dr. Lowell ; 



254 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

charge, by Dr. Kirkland ; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. 
George Ripley; address to the people, by Rev. Henry 
Ware, jun.; concluding prayer, by Rev. B. Whitman; 
benediction, by the pastor. 

"March 14, 1827: In the church, voted, first, that the ceremony of 
owning the covenant, on the admission of members, shall, in future, 
be before the church only at the communion. Second, that the fourth 
paragraph of the present covenant be hereafter discontinued in the 
admission of members. Third, that the pastor have discretionary 
authority to admit members from other churches, of whose Christian 
standing he is satisfied, without any public act." 

"Dec. 2, 1827: The church voted that the Lord's Supper should 
be celebrated on the first sabbath of every other month." 

"June II, 1832: The church voted that the pastor, at his discre- 
tion, be authorized to receive persons into this church at a private 
interview ; and that no public act shall be necessary to their member- 
ship, except propounding them in the usual form." 

" 1827: Deacon Richard Hall bequeathed to this church the sum 
of seven hundred dollars, the interest of which should forever be 
distributed among the poor of this church." 

"April 25, 1827: The parish voted to raise twelve hundred dollars, 
to pay the minister's salary and other current expenses." 

At the same meeting, voted to introduce the "Cambridge 
Collection " of hymns in jDlace of Dr. Watts's. 

April 30, 1832: The subject of building a parsonage- 
house was discussed in a parish-meeting ; and resolutions 
to build were passed, and three thousand dollars voted as 
the highest sum to be raised on the credit of the parish. 
After plans and wishes on both sides had been proposed 
and argued, that Christian benefactor, who "does good by 
stealth, and blushes to find it fame," offered a piece of 
land, as a gift to the parish, for the site of a parsonage. 
The parish accordingly voted "a formal acceptance of the 
very generous offer of Dr. Daniel Swan, which they 
esteem doubly valuable from the amiable and accommo- 
dating spirit in which it has been thus promptly made." 

The house was built at a cost of $3,824.05, and was 
acceptable to pastor and people. 

April 17, 1837: The parish voted "to raise $1,400, to 
pay the minister's salary and other current expenses." 

March 11, 1839: A committee of seven was appointed 
this day to consider the expediency of building a new 
meeting-house, and to procure plans and estimates. They 
finally recommended the erection of a wooden house ; and 
on the 2d of April, 1839, the parish passed the following 
vote : "That the present house be taken down, and a new 




UNITARIAN CHURCH. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 255 

one built on the same spot in its stead, not to exceed in 
cost the sum of $12,000." The building-committee were 
Messrs. Samuel P. Hey wood, Andrew Blanchard, jun., 
George W. Porter, Samuel Lapham, and Milton James, 
Esqs. They were instructed by the parish to procure a 
new organ, and subsequently reported that "a donation 
of $1,000 by the Hon. Peter C. Brooks" had enabled them 
to secure a first-rate instrument at the cost of $1,650, 
The cost of the meeting-house and vestry was $12,566.22; 
of two furnaces, $220.00; repairs on clock, $224.00; carpets 
and pulpit-trimmings, etc., $591.72 ; work on the grounds, 
etc, $195.69, — making a sum total of $13,797.63. 

It was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God and 
the promulgation of Christianity, on Wednesday the 4th 
of December, 1839. The exercises were: Introductory 
prayer, by Rev. Nathaniel Hall of Dorchester ; selection 
from the Scriptures, by Rev. Edward B. Hall of Provi- 
dence, R.I. ; prayer of dedication, by Rev. Con vers Fran- 
cis, D.D., of Watertown ; sermon, by Rev. Caleb Stetson ; 
concluding prayer, by Rev. N. L. Frothingham of Boston. 

The preacher took i Cor. iii. 16 for his text. WorsJdp 
was his subject, and it was discussed with the power and 
beauty peculiar to the speaker. The opening sentences 
disclose the central thoughts of the sermon. "The soul 
that makes an offering is greater than the gift. No sacri- 
fice is so noble as the spirit that hallows it ; no house 
built by human hands, for the service of God, is so holy 
as that which he hath chosen and sanctified for himself in 
every pure heart." 

" O Thou that dost prefer 
Before all temples the upright heart and pure." 

Thus on the spot long sacred to the worship of the 
"living and true God," this zealous and devoted people 
reared another temple, in which to gather for instruction, 
praise, and prayer ; in which to consecrate their children, 
and in which to 

" Teach the 3'oung mind to look above, 
And the young knee to bend in prayer." 

One fact of great interest should be recorded in this 
place, as a Christian example to all churches. 

As soon as the First Parish had voted to take down the 
old meeting-house, the Second Congregational Society and 



256 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

the Universalist Society offered the use of their meeting- 
houses to the First Parish at such times as would be mutu- 
ally convenient. We love to record these acts of Christian 
courtesy; for they were, in this case, offerings of the 
heart. 

According to the New-England usage, the pews were 
sold at auction, after a committee had apportioned upon 
them a relative value sufficient to cover the cost of the 
house, vestry, etc. Those pews which were leased by the 
parish paid seven per cent on their appraised value. On 
the sale of the pews, a premium was given for the right 
of choice. The amount accruing from the sale of seventy- 
one pews was $12,397. 

In the last report of the committee are these words : 
"Your committee have much pleasure in being able to 
congratulate the parish on the entire success with which 
this enterprise has been accomplished, and the good effects 
that have resulted from it." 

There was a debt of something over two thousand dol- 
lars on the church when it was completed, but that was 
soon discharged ; and Mr. Stetson enjoyed in that church 
a pastorate of nearly ten years, which had been preceded 
by a settlement of eleven years, making his whole minis- 
try in Medford twenty-one years. 

During that time he had baptized 210 persons ; married 
143 couples ; admitted to the church 106 communicants; 
and officiated at 304 funerals. 

The average parish expenses from 1825 to 1850 may be 
fairly estimated by the following statement : They were, 
in 1825, Si, 208.16; in 1830, $1,235.35 ; i" 1840, $1,701.24; 
in 1845, $2,348.01 ; in 1850, $1,523.21. 

Mr, Stetson resigned his office of pastor, March 24, 
1848. The First Parish did not separate from him without 
expressing their deep gratitude for his long and acceptable 
services. Their letter to him ends with these words : — 

"With such impressions of the character of your great ministr}-, 
accept, dear sir, assurances of our affectionate regard and sincere 
wishes for the happiness and prosperity of yourself and family." 

He was a man whose heart was warm towards every 
good cause, whose hand was outstretched towards every 
needy brother; and high testimony has been borne to his 
learning, philanthropy, and ministerial faithfulness. Dur- 
ing a part of his ministry in Medford, the anti-slavery 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 257 

excitement had been carried into many pulpits, and in 
some parishes had caused permanent alienations between 
minister and people. The First Parish in Medford felt 
somewhat the flux and reflux of the troubled waters; and,, 
when afterwards arranging the terras for the settlement of 
Mr. Stetson's successor, they were led to take some ill- 
advised action to check the discussion of the vexed ques- 
tion, 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. JOHN PIERPONT. 

After the resignation of Rev. Mr. Stetson, the First 
Parish on the nth of June, 1849, voted to extend an invi- 
tation to the Rev. John Pierpont to settle with them in 
the ministry for one year, with a salary of one thousand 
dollars, — provided the connection be dissolved on either 
side by giving a previous notice of six months. Yeas, 25 ; 
nays, 24. 

June 25, 1849: The above vote was amended so as to 
read as follows : — 

"That this parish do extend to the Rev. John Pierpont an invita- 
tion to become its pastor on a salary of one thousand dollars a year, 
— payable by quarterly yearly payments, — and with the understand- 
ing and agreement that either of said parties may put an end to the 
connection by giving to the other party six months' notice, in writing, 
of his or their intention so to do." 

July 9, 1849: At a meeting of the parish this day, the 
following was introduced and voted : — 

" Resolved, that, in view of the history of this parish, its present 
condition, and its future prospects, it is regarded as inexpedient, and 
hazardous to our best interests as a Christian church, for our pastor 
to preach any political abolition sermons or discourses in our pulpit 
on the sabbath." 

This vote was interpreted by some as "limiting the 
topics upon which the pastor is to be at liberty to treat in 
the pulpit." This, however, was disclaimed by the friends 
of the resolution. On the 23d of July the vote was unani- 
mously rescinded. 

After anxious and patient weighing of the whole matter, 
with the assistance of friends, Mr. Pierpont accepted the 
invitation, July 5, 1849. 

July 9 seven gentlemen were appointed a committee 
"to communicate with Mr. Pierpont on the subject of his 
settlement, and for conducting and making arrangements 



258 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

for his installation." This committee report, April 8, 
1850, as follows : — 

"At a meeting of the special committee of the First Parish of Med- 
ford, appointed July 9, 1849, to make arrangements with the Rev. 
John Pierpont for the commencement of his pastoral labors in its 
pulpit, on conference with the pastor and with his concurrence, — 

"Voted to dispense with the ceremony of an ecclesiastical council 
for the installation of our pastor. 

"Voted that the committee hereby ordain the Rev. John Pierpont 
to become the pastor of the First Parish of Medford, and install him 
in that office. 

"Voted that the term of his engagement commence on the first 
day of August, 1H40, and his salary be paid to him from that date, 
quarterly, as provided in the terms of the vote of his election to the 
office of pastor of this parish. 

"Voted to accept the report of the committee." 

Mr. Pierpont was sixty-four years old when he com- 
menced his ministry in Medford ; and believing that it was 
his duty to denounce eval and fight against sin whenever 
they were encountered, he had become noted, not only in 
Massachusetts but throughout the country, for his zealous 
support of the movement against human slavery and in- 
temperance ; and his weighty words were not always satis- 
factory to a part of his parishioners, who thought that 
intemperance and slavery should be kept out of the pulpit, 
and not be mixed up with gospel preaching. There was 
.considerable feeling in regard to the course he pursued; 
and since he knewr the minds of a large m.inority of his 
parish by the resolutions they had discussed in regard to 
this matter, before he accepted their call, they thought 
him to be pugnacious and unwisely persistent in his 
action. 

But in the spring of 1858, after a pf-ayerful considera- 
tion of his position, he tendered his resignation, and it was 
accepted. 

He was not a man to remain idle, though at that time 
he was seventy-three years of age. He was in the vigor 
of his intellect ; his heart was warmed with noblest emo- 
tions, and his spirit just ripening into immortal youth. 
He wrought vigorously in the reforms of the day ; 
preached, as he was called, to supply vacant parishes ; and 
when the war of the Rebellion broke out, though he was 
then seventy-six years old, he obtained from Gov. Andrew 
a commission as chaplain in the Twenty-second Regi- 
ment of Massachusetts Volunteers, and marched with the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD., 259 

regiment from Boston. Not long afterwards, his services 
were called into requisition in the Treasury Department 
at Washington ; and there he performed excellent and 
very useful work, editing, arranging, and indexing the de- 
cisions and rulings of the law-officers of that department, 
which until that time had been almost useless for refer- 
ence from lack of order and classification. 

In 1866 he visited Medford, which had been his home 
from the date of his settlement here ; and he died very 
suddenly, Aug. 27, at the age of eighty-one years. The 
day before his death, he attended public worship in the 
church where for more than eight years he was pastor; and 
there, forgetful of all past differences of opinion, and hav- 
ing in mind all the gifts, culture, refinement, and Christian 
graces that their reverend and heroic friend possessed, his 
former parishioners gathered in large numbers at his fu- 
neral services, and paid sincere homage to his worth. 

Rev. John Pierpont was a man of versatile powers ; but 
his great heart and his great faith in God and in humanity 
were his distinguishing qualities, and helped him to be- 
come philanthropist and patriot, preacher and poet, re- 
former and Christian. He early won an honorable position 
among our minor New-England poets ; and some of his 
productions, patriotic and commemorative, or tenderly ex- 
pressive of the family affections, still hold a place in our 
literature. 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. THEODORE TEBBETTS. 

Mr. Tebbctts was called to the pastorate of the First 
Parish on the 29th of December, 1856, on a salary of 
$1,500. The call was accepted, and he was duly installed 
in the spring of 1857. He soon became not only admired 
as a man and preacher, but found that the hearts of his 
people were with him. His pleasing address, courteous 
bearing, and sound learning, gave him the united attach- 
ment of his people, and a bright day seemed dawning 
upon the religious organization of which he was the effi- 
cient head. 

But in February, 1S59, he was suddenly prostrated by 
an attack of bleeding at the lunfrs, which made it abso- 
lutely necessary for him to seek a more genial climate. 
The parish were deeply grieved by this condition of their 
beloved pastor, and at once voted to supply the pulpit 



26o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

during^ the time that he might be necessarily absent, and 
allow his salary to continue meanwhile. The change was 
fav^orable, and in the following June he returned much 
improved in health ; but the climate was too stimulating 
for him, and, after preaching a single sermon, the hemor- 
rhage came on again, and he was never able to resume his 
charge. 

In the following October he sent a letter to the parish 
tendering his resignation. 

In that letter he expressed, in tender and most felici- 
tous language, the great happiness he had enjoyed while 
able to perform his pastoral duties, and the strong hope 
he had cherished that he might ere long resume them ; 
and he finally closed with the following touching and 
truly Christian words: "And therefore, though I confess 
that to write thus gives me a pang of unutterable sorrow, 
because I thus surrender not only the highest ambition 
but the chief happiness of my life, I resign into your 
hands the office of pastor, which I received from you two 
years and a half ago. And may the everlasting Father 
give us all a clear vision to discern, an unfaltering cour- 
age to do, and a cheerful patience to bear, what is his holy 
will." 

At a parish meeting, held Nov, 7, 1859, it was voted as 
follows : — 

"While we fully appreciate the feelings that have prompted our 
pastor to tender his resignation of that office in which he has become 
so greatly endeared to us, we do not see sufficient cause for severing 
the tie which binds us together in the affectionate relation of pastor 
and people; therefore 

'■'■Resolved, That we feel the fullest sympathy for him in his illness; 
that keeping in grateful remembrance the zeal, earnestness, and devo- 
tion with which he has ministered over us, strengthening us as a par- 
ish, winning the personal affection of all, and awakening in us, as we 
trust, a higher and deeper^spiritual life, we cannot abandon the hope 
that God in his goodness will yet restore him to health and to his 
former usefulness in his sacred office, and therefore we respectfully 
decline to accept his tendered resignation." 

Unfortunately those hopes were vain. Disease contin- 
ued to get a stronger hold upon the man so much beloved, 
and in June next following he was compelled to abandon 
all hope of e^'er resuming the duties that had been so 
precious to him. 

Once more he tendered his resignation, which, with 
great sorrow, his people accepted. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 26 1 

At a meeting held the 9th of June, the parish passed 
resolutions of profound regret that they felt compelled to 
comply with his request ; of deep and tender sympathy 
for him in his sickness ; and of warm and fraternal interest 
in all that pertained to his wishes, necessities, and happi- 
ness, the remainder of his earthly life. 

They voted that his salary should continue three months 
from and after July i, and so, by generous action, proved 
their words sincere. 

Mr. Tebbetts was never able to preach again, and after 
a long and trying illness passed on to the spirit life, in 
the reality of which he had long cherished unbounded 
faith. 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. EDWARD C. TOWNE. 

Nine months from the acceptance of their last pastor's 
resignation, the parish extended a call to INIr. Edward C. 
Towne; and he was duly installed as the successor of Mr. 
Tebbetts in April, 1861. 

He was a man of marked ability, a good speaker, and 
attached to himself many warm friends ; but the radical 
views that he pushed into the foreground of his ministra- 
tions were the cause of some complaint, and finally of 
disagreement in the parish, and resulted in the resignation 
of Mr. Towne in 1867. 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. HENRY C. DE LONG. 

Dec. 21, 1868, it was voted that Rev. Henry C. DeLong 
be called to the pastorate. He accepted the invitation ; 
and on the first Sunday in March, 1869, he entered upon 
his duties, and from that time to the present has filled 
the high office of a Christian pastor to the satisfaction of 
his people. 

At a parish meeting held in May, 1882, it was voted to 
make extensive improvements in the church building; and 
a committee was appointed to superintend the expendi- 
ture of ^3,000 in that work. 

RETROSPECTION, 

In looking back through two hundred years, it can be 
said that Medford has not had more than its share of 
religious trials; and that, under them, it has borne itself 
with intelligence, dignity, and moderation. 



262 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The causes that led to occasional disagreements were 
not unlike those that all old parishes have experienced, 
and may be catalogued as follows : Location of the church 
building, terms of minister's settlement, amount of his 
salary, assessment of taxes, mode of raising money for 
various purposes, changes in the creed, in the Psalm-book, 
m certain forms of worship, and perhaps chiefly the ques- 
tion of the freedom of the pulpit. 

In closing this history of the First Church, we must 
not forget what has been done for the children of the 
church. 

Sunday schools have multiplied in New England greatly 
since 1820. This is now very properly called the "Chil- 
dren's Age." It was long ago seen that children in many 
homes were not religiously educated, and Sunday schools 
were established to remedy in part that evil. 

There are no scales that can weigh moral effects, but 
there can be no doubt that the salutary influences of 
Sunday schools have been immense. The whole force 
of the common-school system being directed to unfold and 
sharpen the intellect mainly, moral culture in them is 
only incidental. The result, as we all know, has been 
realized in a most disproportionate development of mere 
intellect; as if the aim of life were to empower a child to 
gain money and secure office. The consequence of this is, 
that the community becomes filled with men whose exten- 
sive knowledge, acute reason, boundless ambition, and 
unscrupulous selfishness make them leaders in public 
plunder and commercial infidelity. The more enlightened 
the intellect becomes, unguided by conscience, the more 
adroit it makes the villain. Mere secular instruction is 
no security against crime ; therefore the Sunday school 
came to the relief and rescue of society when it mam- 
tained that something more was necessary to make men 
good than to make them intelligent. It taught that the 
affections are the source of happiness ; and it endeavored 
to develop the moral powers, so as to introduce God and 
Christ, and truth and heaven, as permanent occupants of 
the soul. If it be true that the acquisition of mere sci- 
ence and literature imparts no adequate power to subdue 
vicious habit or restrain criminal passion, but often gives 
keenness to their edge and certainty to their aim, it fol- 
lows, as a solemn consequence, that every patriot, philan- 
thropist, and Christian is sacredly bound to sustain the 
Sunday school. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 263 

The First Parish was early influenced by these consid- 
erations, and hastened to establish a school which had its 
superintendent, also a teacher to each six children, and a 
juvenile library accessible to all the pupils. This school 
has had the sympathy and active co-operation of the best 
and most intelligent men and women in the parish, and 
some of its pastors have been devoted to its interests. 

Many nurtured in the Sunday school have grown up 
naturally into the church, and here as elsewhere such 
additions have been the most reliable. 

The couiniunion-plate of the First Church has its history, 
and the reader will find in it some interesting and peculiar 
items as follows : — 

"Two silver cups, bou,2;ht by the church in 1719. 

" One silver cup, gift of Mrs. Sarah Ward, 1725. 

" One silver cup, gift of Deacon Thomas Willis. 

"Two silver cups, gift of Mr. Francis Leathe, 1742. 

"One silver cup, gfft of Thomas Brooks, Esq., 1759. 

" One large silver tankard with a cover, gift of Rev. Ebenezer 
Turell, 1760. 

•' One smaller silver tankard with a cover, gift of Francis and Mary 
Whitmore, 1761. 

"One large open silver can, gift of Hon. Isaac Royal, 17S1. 

"One silver dish, gift of Hon. Isaac Royal, 1789. 

"One silver dish, gift of Deacon Richard Hall, 1814. 

"Two silver cups,''gift of Mr. William Wyman, 181 5. 

" Two silver cups, given by Mrs. Preston. 

"Two silver flagons, gift of Hon. P. C. Brooks, 1823. 

"One silver dish, gift'of Mr. David Bucknam, 1824. 

"One antique silver cup, donor and date unknown. 

" One silver spoon, donor and date unknown. 

"Two silver cans, gift of Turell Tufts, Esq., 1842." 

Previously to 1759. there were the following : — 

" One pewter flagon, gift of Hon. John Usher. 
"One pewter flagon, gift of Deacon John Whitmore. 
" Four pewter flagons, bought by the church. 

"Two pewter dishes, gift of Tii'omas Tufts, Esq., and two pewter 
ones bought by the church. 

"One silver baptismal basin, gift of Mr. John Willis, 1 755-" 

The pewter dishes, by a resolve of the church, in 1824, 
were sold, and a silver one purchased. This made the 
furniture of the table entire and appropriate. 

Here follows an item that is deserving of record as 
showing the spirit of the times in which the incidents 
therein related occurred : 

Colonel Royal gave a silver cup to the church in Med- 



264 HISTORY OP MED FORD. 

ford ; but he being an absentee, suspected of opposition to 
the American Revolution, his agent could not deliver the 
cup without legislative authority. The following public 
document will sufficiently explain itself : — - 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 

In Senate, Oct. 26, 17S1. 

On the petition of David Osgood, pastor of the church of Clirist 
in Medford, in loehalf of said church; 

Resolved, That for the reason therein mentioned, the agent of the 
estate of Isaac Royal, Esq., late of Medford, an absentee, be, and is 
hereby, directed to deliver a certain silver cup, referred to in the said 
petition, belonging to the said absentee's estate, to the said David 
Osgood, for the use of the church in Medford, agreeably to the prayer 
of the said petition, and take a receipt for the same. 

Sent down for concurrence. 

Samuel Adams, President. 

In the House of Representatives, Oct. 27, 17S1. 
Read and concurred. 



Approved. 

A true copy. Attest ; 



Nathaniel Gorham, Speaker. 

John Hancock, 

John Avery, Sec. 



Medford, Nov. 6, 1781. 

Received of Simon Tufts, Esq., agent for the estate of Isaac 
Royal, Esq., an absentee, the silver cup mentioned in the above order 
of court. David Osgood. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Rev. Aaron Porter, settled Feb. 11, I7i3;died Jan. 23,1722 

" Ebenezer Turell, " Nov. 25, 1724; " Dec. 8,1778 

" David Osgood, " Sept. 14, 1774; " Dec. 12,1822 

" Andrew Bigelow, " July 9, 1S23 ; resigned Jan. 9,1827 

" Caleb Stetson, " Feb. 28, 1827; '' Mar 24, 1848, 

" John Pierpont, " Aug. I, 1849; " Apr. 30, 1856, 

" Theodore Tebbetts, " 1857*, " June 9,186a 

" Edward C. Towne, " April, 1861 , " Jan. 30, 1867 

" Henry C. DeLong, " March, 1869. 

With a desire that full justice should be done to the his- 
tory of each religious society in town, what follows under 
the head of ecclesiastical history has been made up largely 
from material furnished by the officers of the various 
churches named ; and in compiling it, we have stated 
nothing which had not the unqualified indorsement of 
those authorized to speak in the matter. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 265 



SECOND CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY. 

As stated in a previous chapter, the First Church, after 
the settlement of Rev. Andrew Bigelow, found itself com- 
posed of members having different views of Christian doc- 
trines. It was evident that they could not walk together 
in harmony ; and, as already stated, several members took 
steps preparatory to a separation from the original church. 
In their letters addressed to that church, they disclaimed 
personal unfriendliness, and based their action solely on 
the ground of different views of the gospel ; particularly, 
as they said, " respecting the doctrines of the Trinity, the 
native character of man, the divinity and atonement of 
Christ, regeneration, and others allied to these." 

The following is the closing extract from their request : — 

"Under these impressions, dear brethren, we conscientiously and 
in the fear of God ask from the church letters of dismission, for the 
purpose of forming ourselves, in a regular manner, into a new and 
separate church ; and while we deeply lament the necessity which we 
think exists for such a measure, we wish to adopt it from the sole 
desire of enjoying religious instruction which accords with our views 
of the system of truth laid down in the gospel of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ." 

A most kind and Christian answer released them from 
their bond of church-fellowship ; and on the 22d of June, 
1823, they organized a new religious association, which 
they called The Second Congregational Society in Medford. 
After the following Sunday, the members of the new soci- 
ety fitted up a hall in the neighborhood as a temporary 
place of worship ; and their numbers gradually increased. 

The pulpit was supplied by clergymen in the neighbor- 
hood, and from the theological seminary in Andover, till 
Oct. 2 ; when the seventeen members from the First 
Church, with nine members of other churches, who had 
removed lately to Medford, bringing with them letters of 
dismission, were organized into a church by an ecclesiasti- 
cal council, of which Rev. William Greenough of Newton 
was chosen moderator, and Rev. B. B. Wisner of Boston 
scribe. 

The names of the original members were as follows: — 

Galen James, Jesse Crosby, Thomas Jameson, Gilbert 
Blanchard, Mary Clay, Hephzibah Fitch, Nancy Fitch, 
Mary Magoun, Mary Blanchard, Elizabeth Bailey, Harriet 
G. Rogers, Ann Clay, IMary R. James, Mary Blanchard, 



266 HISTORY OF M El) FORD. 

2d, Nancy Jameson, Hannah Crosby, Mary Kidder, James 
Forsayth, Nathaniel Jaquith, Thompson Kidder, Thomas 
Pratt, John T. White, Janette Forsayth, Phebe Pratt, Cyn- 
thia White, Lucy Blanchard. 

Feb. 21, 1824, an act passed the Legislature incorporat- 
ing the new society ; and the measures were put in oper- 
ation for the erection of a new church-building. This 
movement was successful ; and on the ist of September of 
the same year, the house of worship was dedicated to the 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

The interest of that occasion was greatly heightened by 
another service. Rev. Aaron Warner, who had labored 
with acceptance nearly from the time of the organization 
of the church, was at that time installed as pastor of the 
new organization. 

His ministry of eight years was eminently successful. 
There were many accessions to the congregation, and 
above a hundred additions to the church. 

He was dismissed at his own request, Oct. 2, 1832. 

His successor was Rev. Gordon Winslow ; ordained 
June 12, 1833, and dismissed Nov, 12, 1834. 

After him, Rev. Levi Pratt was installed pastor, Aug. 19, 
1835. He died of fever in the midst of his labors, Aug. 9, 

The next pastor was Rev. A. R. Baker, ordained April 
25, 1838. 

During his ministry, several precious seasons of revival 
were enjoyed, the church and congregation increased, and 
larger accommodations in the house of worship became 
necessary. From this time Zion's children began to say, 
in prophetic language, " Give us room, that we may dwell ;" 
and the church became, in an important sense, the mother 
of churches. Besides furnishing members from time to 
time for the organization of several evangelical churches 
of other denominations, in July, 1847, she sent out a strong 
colony, sixty in number, to form the Mystic Church of 
Medford. After a laborious and successful pastorate of 
over ten years, Mr. Baker (afterwards Rev. Dr. Baker) was 
dismissed Sept. 20, 1848. The number uniting with the 
church during this time was one hundred and seventy- 
seven. 

The church remained destitute of a pastor four years, 
till the Rev. E. P. Marvin was installed Feb. 25, 1852. In 
1853 ^'""^ i^ i860, the church-building was remodelled and 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 267 

refitted, and an organ furnished. Sept. 9, i860, it and all 
it contained was burnt to the ground. A new house was 
built, which was dedicated to the service of Almighty God 
June 12, 1861. June 25, 1857, it was voted unanimously 
to change the name of the church from the Second Con- 
gregational to First Trinitarian Congregational Church erf 
Medford. The society retained its original name. In Janu- 
ary, 1865, Rev. Mr. Marvin resigned his office as pastor, 
and was subsequently dismissed by the ecclesiastical coun- 
cil that installed his successor. The number of persons 
admitted to the church during his pastorate was one 
hundred and forty-six. 

Rev. James T. McCollom was installed pastor of the 
church, Nov. 8, 1865, but took charge of the pulpit from 
the first Sunday in October. 

For many years there had been a growing conviction 
that a union of the Mystic and the First Trinitarian Congre- 
gational Churches would, under existing circumstances, 
much conduce to the advancement of the kingdom of 
Christ in Medford. Among the reasons which finally led 
to such a union, was the founding of an Orthodox church 
and society at West Medford, which drew so largely from 
the other churches, that it seemed unnecessary to maintain 
two organizations at the centre of the town. The two 
churches had existed many years side by side, doing their 
great work always in harmony, often in fraternal union of 
efforts and means, and with the marked blessing of God 
on their labors. 

All preliminaries having been happily arranged in Octo- 
ber, 1874, the union of the two churches was consum- 
mated Dec. 31 of the same year ; and the house of worship 
on High Street, left vacant by the said union, was sold in 
1876 to the St. Joseph Catholic Society. 

Mr. McCollom, whom the uniting churches, after having 
seen his daily walk and work for so many years, desired to 
retain as pastor, and whose dearest earthly joy would have 
been in walking before them the shepherd of one fiock, 
died Nov. 25, 1874, deeply beloved and lamented by all 
who knew him. 

He was born in Salem, N.Y., Sept. 20, 1814; graduated 
at Dartmouth College in 1835, and at Andnver Theological 
Seminary in 1840. His other settlements were at Pitts- 
ton, Mc., 1841-44; at Great Falls, N.H., 1844-54; and at 
Bradford, Mass., 1854-65. 



268 HISTORY OF AfEDFORD. 



MYSTIC CHURCH. 

This Third Congregational Society in Medford was an 
outgrowth of the Second. The increase of business and 
population, still further stimulated by the opening of rail- 
road communication with Boston, led in March, 1847, to 
a conference with four neighboring clergymen, to whom 
were submitted statistics and facts showing the necessity 
of increased accommodation for the Orthodox Congrega- 
tionalists of the town. Those clergymen were unanimous 
in advising the formation of a new church and congrega- 
tion. In pursuance of their advice, separate worship was 
established in the Town Hall, May 9, 1847; and a new 
church with sixty members was organized July 6 of that 
year by a large ecclesiastical council. A substantial, neat, 
and convenient church-edifice, capable of seating about 
five hundred, was erected during the summer of 1848, and 
dedicated Feb. 14, 1849. A valuable organ was furnished 
in 1854. 

A union with the First Trinitarian Congregational 
Church having been effected in the autumn of 1874, the 
united body worshipped in the edifice of that church on 
High Street for more than a year, till the structure on 
Salem Street, remodelled, enlarged, and ready for use, was 
re-dedicated Jan. 12, 1876. 

Since its organization the church has received 357 mem- 
bers by letter, and 257 on profession. Its membership 
(October, 1885) is 326. 

The form of admission, confession of faith, and cove- 
nant of this church are in substantial agreement with the 
same of other churches of the Congregational order 
throughout the country ; and they are in full accord with 
the declarations of faith and polity made at the council 
held in Boston in 1865, and subsequently re-afifirmed in 
the First National Council of the Congregational Churches 
which convened at Oberlin, O., in 1871. 

We give a list of the pastors of this church, with the 
time of their settlement : — 

Rev. Abn'er B. Warner, a nephew of Rev. Professor 
Warner, the first pastor of the Second Church, was in- 
stalled Oct. 27, 1847, and died in office May 26, 1853, 

Rev. Jacob M. Manning, D.D., was ordained Jan. 5» 
1854; and dismissed Feb. 17, 1857, to become associate 
pastor of the Old South Church, Boston. 




MYSTIC CHURCH. 




UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, 1850. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 269 

Rev. Elias Nason was installed Nov. 10, 1858, and dis- 
missed Nov. 19, i860. 

Rev. Edward P. Hooker, D.D., was ordained Nov. 13, 
1 86 1, and dismissed March 31, 1869. 

Rev. Solon Cobb was installed Nov. 3, 1869, and dis- 
missed March 12, 1874. 

Rev. Charles H. Baldwin was installed June 30, 1875, 
and dismissed Feb. 16, 1881. 

Rev. Theophilus P. Savvin, jun., was installed Nov. 16, 
1881, and is still in office. 

UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. 

On the loth of March, 183 1, the first legal steps were 
taken towards the formation of this society ; and on the 
22d of March of the same year, the society was organized, 
and all parish officers were chosen. 

In April Rev. VVinslow W. Wright was installed as its 
first pastor. 

He resigned in April, 1835 ; and Rev. Joseph Banfield 
was soon settled as his successor, but resigned in 1838. 
Rev. Dr. Hosea Ballou was settled in 1838. 

The meeting-house was built in 1832, and was remod- 
elled and enlarged in 1850, and again in 1886. In the first 
instance, the society was kindly invited by the Unitarian 
parish to use their house of worship while the improve- 
ments were being made. This invitation was accepted. 

Rev. Dr. Ballou, having been called to the presidency 
of Tufts College, resigned in August, 1853 ; and in April, 
1854, Rev. G. V. Maxham was ordained. 

The church was organized Jan. 19, 1834, at which time 
twenty-three persons joined. 

The Sunday school was organized soon after the church, 
probably the same year. 

In May, 1838, a Sunday-school teachers' association was 
formed, "whose object shall be our own mutual improve- 
ment, and the good of the school committed to our care." 

This school has always been large and influential. 

Parker R. Litchfield has been its efficient superintendent 
for more than twenty-five years in succession, and is at 
this time (1886) at its head. 

From time to time when this society has been destitute 
of a pastor, Revs. T. J. Greenwood, Eben Francis, and 
Richard Eddy have supplied the desk. 



270 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The settled pastors, succeeding those above named, have 
been : — 

Rev. C. B. Lombard, 

Rev. B. H. Davis, 

Rev. Russell P. Ambler, 

Rev. J. H. Farnsworth, 

Rev. W. G. Haskell, 

Rev. D. L. R. Libbey, and 

Rev. Russell P. Ambler, second settlement. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

In July, 1822, Rev. Josiah Brackett preached the first 
Methodist sermon in Medford, in what was known as the 
" College Building," now standing on Riverside Avenue. 

Preaching was continued, and in 1823 a Sunday school 
was organized, and held in Mead's Hall, Main Street. 

The church was organized in 1822 or 1823. 

In 1828 the society was incorporated as the "First 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Medford ; " and a chapel 
was built on Cross Street, and dedicated. 

From 1828 to 183 1, the pulpit was supplied by local 
preachers, among them Rev. C. K. True, Dr. . Samuel 
Coggeshall, and Rev. Stephen Smith. In 1831 and 1832 
Rev. Mr. Vanscawer, also a local preacher, was pastor. 

In 1833 Rev. Apollos Hale was regularly appointed by 
the Bishop; 1834, Elbridge G. Drake was the supply; and 
Rev. Mr. Nichols in 1835. In 1836 and the following 
years, local preachers supplied the pulpit, till finally regu- 
lar services were discontinued. 

In 1842 preaching was resumed and continued by 
Moses L. Scudder of Charlestown, the Maiden pastors, 
and others ; first in the private house of Ira T. Barker, 
then in an old brick schoolhouse on Cross Street, which 
was fitted up and dedicated, but proved to be too small ; 
and then the Town Hall was rented, and used as a place 
of worship. 

In 1844 Rev. George Pickering was sent by the Confer- 
ence to this charge ; and this year the lot was purchased 
where Music Hall now stands, on Salem Street, upon 
which to erect a church-edifice. 

The church was completed, and dedicated by Bishop 
Janes, Dec. 19, 1845. 

The next two years the pulpit was supplied by Revs. 
J. A. Adams and James Shepherd. 







METHODIST-EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 





ptflflli 



^1 



BAPTIST CHURCH. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 27 1 

1847. The first social circle was organized in connec- 
tion with this society, and the ladies of the circle pur- 
chased the furniture to furnish the parsonage. 

The Revs. Thomas Tucker, William Smith, A. D. Mer- 
rill, J. W. Perkins, and Charles Noble were the next 
preachers. 

The following-named pastors have been in charge from 
1855 to 1886 : — 

Revs. E. S. Best, William A, Braman, A. F. Herrick, 
J. A. Ames, H. N. Loud, David Sherman, Daniel Wait, 
N. T. Whitaker, Frank J. Wagner, T. B. Smith, Thomas 
Corwin Watkins, Gilbert C. Osgood, James W. Fenn, 
and Lyman D. Bragg the present pastor. 

During Mr. Whitaker's pastorate, a parsonage was pur- 
chased at a cost of three thousand dollars. 

In 1872, a lot having been purchased, the corner-stone 
for a new church-edifice was laid May i, 1872, with appro- 
priate services. 

The church was erected at a cost of forty-five thousand 
dollars; and dedicated on April 30, I'^J}), by Bishop G. 
Haven. 

An organ was purchased for the church, at a cost of 
three thousand dollars. 

The Sunday school of the Methodist Society in Med- 
ford has had an interesting history. It was small at first, 
but in 1868 it numbered two hundred and seven members. 
Mr. Ira T. Barker was the first superintendent of this 
school upon its re-organization in 1S43. 

Since 1862 this school, as a missionary work, has raised 
twenty-five dollars per year for the support of young men 
who are fitting for the ministry in India. 

Present number in school : scholars in classes, 191 ; 
infant class, 53 ; officers and teachers, ly. Whole num- 
ber, 271. Volumes in library, 712. 

This Sunday school was represented in the army, in the 
late conflict, by several of its members. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

There was much interest manifested by a few friends in 
favor of a Baptist church in this town, in 1818 and 1819; 
and as the result, the first baptism took place in Mystic 
River, May 3, 1820. July 7, 1841, a Baptist church was 
organized, and Robert L. Ells was chosen deacon. 



2/2 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Rev. George W . Bosworth was the first pastor. The 
church was publicly recognized, and the pastor ordained 
Sept 8, 1 84 1. 

In 1842 The First Baptist Society of Medford was 
legally incorporated, and a chapel was erected on Salem 
Street, and dedicated to the worship of God, Sept. 17, 
1842. 

From 1845 to 1870 the following pastors were in 
charge : viz., — 

Revs. B. C. Grafton, G. C. Danforth, E. K. Fuller, T. E. 
Keely, George M. Preston, and J. C. Hurd. 

In May, 1871, the society called Rev. J. G. Richardson 
to become its pastor, who accepted, and continued till 
May, 1877. He was succeeded by the present pastor, 
Rev. J. P. Abbott, who was ordained Dec. 19, 1877. 

In the spring of 1872 a lot was purchased on Oakland 
Street, upon which to erect a church ; and Sept. 2 of this 
year the corner-stone was laid, and the 29th of June, 1873, 
the society occupied for the first time the lecture-room. 
The old house was then sold, having been used as a house 
of worship thirty-one years. And on July 10, 1878, the 
new and beautiful church-edifice was dedicated to the wor- 
ship of God, to the great joy of the society ; Rev. Mr. 
Bosworth, their first pastor, preaching the sermon. 

The total cost of this church was thirty thousand dol- 
lars. The architect and builder was John Brown, a 
member of the society, and a Medford man. 

April 13, 1880, the society celebrated the event of the 
liquidation of its entire debt. The occasion was one of 
great rejoicing, calling together not only the members of 
the church and parish, but former pastors as well. 

This society has a large and flourishing Sunday school, 
and an extensive and carefully selected library. 

GRACE (episcopal) CHURCH, 

From the original settlement of Medford, until nearly 
the middle of the present century, Churchmen who lived 
within its borders were compelled by the non-existence of 
a church of their faith in the town, to seek in neighbor- 
ing towns the enjoyment of the forms of worship they so 
much loved. Their desire to do this, and their conviction 
that under such circumstances they ought not to be com- 
pelled to support, by the payment of taxes or "rates," the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 273 

worship of the one religious society which for more than 
a century and a half existed here, led, at least in one case, 
to serious trouble. For we find that because of his refusal 
to pay such taxes, one Mathew Ellis was imprisoned by 
the constable of the town. The said Ellis, however, was 
not willing thus to suffer deprivation of his religious 
liberty, and was granted an appeal from the judgments of 
the local courts by the " King in council." What the final: 
result of this case was, doth not appear ; but it is probable 
that the custom of taxing those who were members of the 
Established Church of England did not long continue. 
But members of that Church, if they still desired to engage 
in its worship, were obliged to do so in the old parishes 
of Christ and Trinity Churches, Boston, or the somewhat 
nearer parish of Christ Church, Cambridge. This state 
of things continued until the year 1847. 

In November of that year, the project of an Episcopal 
church in Medford was first agitated ; and at a meeting 
held on Dec. 11, it was determined to make an effort to 
establish a parish. Christmas Eve was selected as an ap- 
propriate time for the first service ; and the Rev. Dr. 
Alexander H. Vinton, rector of St. Paul's Church, Boston, 
was invited to preach on the occasion. One of the Con- 
gregational churches was loaned for the service, and, in 
accordance with the custom of the Episcopal communion 
on the Christmas festival, was fitly decorated with ever- 
green. This was, so far as is known, the first time that 
the public worship of the church was ever celebrated in 
Medford. On this occasion notice was given that there- 
after there would be regular services in the Odd Fellows' 
Hall situated in the upper part of the railway-station. 

On the evening of Feb. 15, 1848, in accordance with a 
legal warrant previously issued, seven gentlemen assem- 
bled in a private house, and organized the parish under 
the name of Grace Church. An adjourned meeting was 
held on the evening of May 7, at which a code of by-laws 
was adopted, and the parish organization completed. At 
the same time the Rev. David Greene Haskins of Roxbury 
was chosen rector. 

Feeling the necessity of having a church-edifice, the 
members of the parish at once addressed themselves to 
that end. On the ist of September, 1849, ^ committee 
was appointed to consider and report upon the best site 
for such a building. On the 5th of September the com- 



:274 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Tiiittee recommended the purchase of a lot of land a short 
■distance from the Square, and opposite the grounds of •] 
the present High-school building. The recommendation 
was adopted. The land was secured ; the work of raisings 
the required funds and building the church was rapidlj^ 
prosecuted ; and on the i ith of May, the completed church 
edifice was duly consecrated by Right Rev. Dr. Eastburn^^ 
bishop of the diocese. The cost of the land was $1,200^ 
the cost of building and furnishing the church was $2,890 ^ 
or a total of $4,090. Mr. Haskins filled the office opj 
rector until Feb. 18, 1852, when he resigned. He was sue- \^ 
ceeded on the 14th of the following September by the Rev.-; 
Justin Field, who remained as rector until Jan. i, i860. 

A vacancy in the rectorship existed for a year succeed- 
ing Mr. Field's resignation. The Rev. A. C. Patterson 
of Buffalo, N.Y., was invited, and accepted the rectorship ; 
but circumstances prevented his assuming charge of the 
parish. 

The Rev. George A. Strong became rector in January, 
,1861, and remained until May, 1863. 

The Rev. Charles H. Learoyd of Danvers was elected 
irector in May, 1863, and entered upon his duties on the 
1st of September of the same year. 

In the spring of 1866, the project of repairing and en- 
larging the church-edifice was considered, and plans were 
adopted. But these were subsequently set aside for the 
adoption of a larger and wiser undertaking, viz., the build- 
ing of a new church. The generous proposal of Mrs. 
Gorham Brooks, a member of the parish, to contribute as 
much towards the erection of a new church as should be 
given by the remaining parishioners, stimulated the efforts 
of those interested in the work ; and the result was a 
general subscription of fifteen thousand dollars. Sub- 
sequently Mrs. Brooks made a still more generous offer to 
complete the church, under certain conditions, at her own 
expense. This proposal was gratefully accepted by the 
parish ; and the present dignified and beautiful stone 
church was completed in the year 1868. 

At Easter, 1872, Mr. Learoyd resigned the rectorship, 
which was shortly afterwards filled by the election of the 
present incumbent, the Rev. Charles L. Hutchins, who 
entered upon his duties in September, 1872. Since that 
time the following events in the parochial history of the 
parish have taken place : — 




J 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 275 

The rectory, situated on High Street at a short distance 
from the church, was built at the expense of a parishioner, 
Mr. Dudley C. Hall, in the year 1872, and by him pre- 
sented to the parish in the early part of the year 1873. 

The church-building, which since its completion had 
remained in the ownership of the family who had gener- 
, ously erected it, and consequently, in accordance with the 
canonical law of the Church, could not be consecrated, 
was given to the parish by Mr. Peter C. Brooks and Mr. 
Shepherd Brooks, and received consecration at the hands 
of the Right Rev. Henry A. Neely, Bishop of Maine, on 
the 6th of May, 1873. The services of consecration were 
of the most impressive character, and were attended by a 
very large congregation, as well as by a larger number of 
clergymen than had been gathered together at a similar 
service in the history of the diocese. The sermon was 
preached by the Rev. Dr. Alexander H. Vinton, and 
several of the former rectors of the parish participated in 
the services. In presenting these gifts of church and 
rectory to the parish, the donors placed them in the hands 
of the " Trustees of Donations " (a corporation formed 
for the purpose of holding and preserving ecclesiastical 
property for the Episcopal Church), thus preventing the 
possibility of alienation and loss. 

In the summer of June, 1873, a successful effort was 
made to procure a chime of bells for the church. The 
town, at a meeting in June, voted to provide one bell, and 
the remaining eight bells were provided by individual gift 
and general subscription. The bells, of which there are 
nine, have a total weight of more than five thousand 
pounds ; the largest weighing fourteen hundred pounds, 
and the smallest two hundred pounds. 

In the autumn of 1877, at a session of the General 
Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
United States held in Boston, the Rev. Mr. Hutchins, 
rector of this parish, was elected secretary of the House 
of Deputies, and has continued in the office to the present 
time. 

In the spring of 1882, the parish, feeling the need of a 
building for Sunday-school and other purposes connected 
with church work, entered upon the plan of erecting a 
Sunday-school chapel. The necessary funds were secured, 
and the corner-stone was laid on June 11, in connection 
with the Sunday-school anniversary. The building, which 



276 History of medford. 

is of stone, was completed in the autumn, and was used 
for tlie first time on Sunday, Oct. 22, of the same year. 
It provides con\'enicnt and capacious rooms for the ses- 
sions of the Sunday school and Bible-classes, rooms for 
choir use, a proper place for religious services, facilities 
for various kinds of church work, and an admirable room 
for a small day school which has since been carried on in 
it. The total cost of the building and its furnishing was 
about $7,700. 

In the year 18S3 a general renovation and decoration of 
the interior of the church was accomplished at an expense 
of about $3,000. The church contains many beautiful 
accessories to worship, the gifts of parishioners and friends. 
Amongst these may be mentioned a brass lectern, an 
elegant altar cross, and a marble baptismal font. A 
memorial bronze tablet erected by parishioners bears the 
name of her whose Christian munificence built the church, 
and memorial windows tell of the faithful departed who 
have gone to rest. Famed both for its exterior and interior 
beauty, the church is an object of interest and attraction 
to many visitors. 

The experience of the church has been one of general 
prosperity; and on its present solid foundation, a still wider 
field of -usefulness is open before it, 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WEST MEDFORD. 

This church had its origin in a union Sunday school 
which held its first session in Mystic Hall, May 28, 1865. 

About three years later the West Medford Christian 
Union was formed for the support of public religious wor- 
ship ; and preaching-services were held Sunday morning 
and evening in Mystic Hall, and the Sunday school in 
the afternoon. As there was no church organization, the 
arrangement was not altogether satisfactory. Several 
plans for a church were considered and given up, when a 
few citizens thought that a Congregational church could 
be supported if an organization was effected. A meeting 
was held at the house of Mr. John H. Norton on the even- 
ing of Feb. 22, 1872, and a committee appointed to con- 
sider the subject. The committee reported in favor of 
organizing a church, and submitted articles of faith, and 
bv-laws, that were accepted ; and officers were chosen 
June I. The church was formally organized with public 




WEST-MEDFORD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 277 

services, June 12, 1872, with twenty-six members, sixteen 
of wiiom came from tlie First Trinitarian Congregational 
Churcli of Medford. July 27 a society was formed to co- 
operate with the church, and to take the place of the Chris- 
tian Union in the support of religious services. 

After much discussion as to location, the society at a 
meeting held July 7, 1873, voted to purchase the lot at the 
corner of Harvard Avenue and Bowers Street. A building 
committee was appointed, of which Mr. C. M. Barrett was 
chairman ; and steps were taken to erect the present 
church-edifice. 

The corner-stone was laid Sept. 16, and the vestry 
occupied in May, 1874. The church was finished and 
dedicated Oct. 14, 1874; and the pastor elect, the Rev. 
M. M. Cutter, was installed on that day. 

John H, Norton and Ira P. Ackerman were the first 
deacons. David H. Brown was the first clerk of the 
church, and the first treasurer of the society ; and the Hon. 
Abner J. Phipps the first chairman of the standing com- 
mittee. The pastors have been : Rev. Edwin L. Jaggar, 
acting pastor, Jan. 2, 1873, to July 12, 1874; Rev. M. M. 
Cutter, installed Oct. 14, 1874, dismissed March, 1882; 
Rev. Edward C. Hood, installed Se[Dt. 13, 1882. 

The number of persons admitted to the church up to 
this date (1885) is 160. 

A communion-service was presented to the church by 
the Mystic Church of Medford, the largest donor being 
Deacon Galen James. 

The pulpit Bible was presented by Mr. B. C. Leonard. 

The church and society have steadily grown with the 
increase of the population of the village ; and under the 
able and efficient leadership of the present and preceding 
pastors they have enjoyed a good degree of prosperity, 
and the heavy debt, which has been a great drawback 
to success, has been paid. Connected with the church is 
a flourishing Sunday school of more than two hundred 
members, and a large and carefully selected library. 

TRINITY METPIODIST-EPISCOPAL SOCIETY OF WEST 
MEDFORD. 

This society was organized April i, 1872. 
The chapel, corner of Bowers and Holton Streets, in 
which the society now worships, was erected in 1873, and 



278 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

dedicated Nov. 5 of that year ; Rev. Andrew McKcown, 
D.D., preaching the dedicatory sermon. 

The church has been served by the following named 
pastors : Francis J. Wagner, June, 1873, to January, 1874; 
Leonidas L. H. Hamilton, Jan. 18, 1874, to January, 1875 ! 
Ernest C. Herdman, January to April, 1875 ; John F. 
Brant, April, 1875, to April, 1876; William Full, April 
18, 1876, to April, 1877; Jarvis A. Ames, April 18, 1877, 
to April, 1880; George M. Smiley, April, 1880, to April, 
1883. Mr. Smiley was succeeded in April, 1883, by the 
present pastor, Charles W. Wilder. 

The society has increased in numbers and strength 
along with the growth of the village, and is now enjoying 
a greater degree of prosperity than at any former period 
of its history. 

The present officers of the church are : Rev. C. W. 
Wilder, pastor ; Nelson Taylor, William McLean, S. C. 
Johnson, Leonard Stearns, O. M. Winship, George Hatch, 
P. G. Scoboria, W. H. Beekman, and L. H. Lovering, 
trustees; N, Taylor, W. McLean, S. C. Johnson, L. 
Stearns, O. M. Winship, G. Hatch, P. G. Scoboria, W. H. 
Beekman, R. Gilmour, M. W. Pierce, and J. F. Richard- 
son, stewards ; S. C. Johnson, superintendent of Sunday 
school. 

CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

The first public service of the Catholic Church was held 
in the Town Hall in 1849, and was conducted by Rev. 
Manassas P. Doherty. The attendance gathered from 
several of the neighboring towns. Services were held 
once a month, and the congregations were .quite large. 
Confessions were heard in the old Wade House, standing 
where Small's Block is now located, and occupied by 
Eugene and Daniel Vaughan. 

In 1864 Rev. John Ryan took charge of the Medford 
Church, and was a most earnest worker ; and under his 
administration the church on Salem Street was erected, 
and the first service Ijeld on Christmas, 1855. This church 
was then in Medford ; but the land on which it stands is 
now, by Act of the Legislature, a part of Maiden. 

Mr. Ryan was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Scully, who 
was succeeded by Revs. McShane and Carroll. 

In 1868 Rev. Thomas Gleason was ajipointcd to this 
church, and much success attended his ministry. 




CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 279 

March 24, 1876, the Catholics purchased the church of 
the Trinitarian Society on High Street, and at Easter 
of the same year held their first service ; Rev. Mr. Gleason 
superintending the church on Salem Street, and also the 
new one on High Street. 

In 1883 the church on High Street became a separate 
parish, and the Rev. Richard Donelly became the pastor, 
and at this time (1886) occupies that position ; and the 
society is prospering under his faithful pastoral care. 



28o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



CHAPTER XI. 

EDUCATION. 

Religion and love of liberty brought our Pilgrim an- 
cestors to Medford ; and as these principles sprang in 
them from intelligence and virtue, so they revealed to 
them the need of intelligence and virtue in their offspring. 
To educate, therefore, was to legislate for the future. The 
establishment of schools, during the first years of their 
residence, was an impossibility ; and, consequently, domes- 
tic instruction was the only alternative. The Bible and 
Primer were the reading-books. In those towns or plan- 
, tations where a clergyman could be supported, he usually 
occupied much of his time in teaching the young; and it 
was common for boys to be received into the minister's 
family to be prepared for college. Those pastors who had 
been silenced in England, and who came here to minister 
to the scattered flocks in the wilderness, were men of 
strong thought and sound scholarship ; and they kept up 
the standard of education. From the necessities of their 
condition, however, it is apparent that the children of our 
ancestors must have been scantily taught, and their grand- 
children must have been still greater sufferers ; for learn- 
ing follows wealth. 

The first movement for the establishment of schools 
took place under the administration of Gov. Prence ; and, 
at his suggestion, the following order was passed in the 
Colony Court, 1663 : — 

" It is proposed by the Court unto the several townships in this 
jurisdiction, as a thing they ought to take into their serious consid- 
eration, that some course may be taken, that in every town there 
may be a schoohiiaster set up, to train up children in reading and 
writing." 

Later, the Colony offered a substantial inducement for 
the establishment of what would seem to be a higher grade 
of school : — 




TRINITY METHODIST-EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WEST MEDFORD. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 28 1 

"In 1670 the Court did freely give and grant all such profits as 
might or should accrue annually to the Colony for fishing with a net 
or seines at Cape Cod for mackerel, bass, or herrings, to be improved 
for and towards a free school, in some town in this jurisdiction, for 
the training-up of youth in literature, for the good and benefit of pos- 
terity, — provided a beginning be made within one year after said 
grant." 

The occupants of the Medford Plantation, being few and 
poor, secured instruction to their children by domestic 
teaching, and by using the schools of the neighboring 
towns. Towards the support of those schools, they were 
required by law to contribute ; and that they were benefited 
by them, is apparent from the fact, that all the persons 
who appear, through a series of years, as officers in the 
town, were well educated. The leading idea of emigration 
to this country, and the spirit of the age, would not allow 
them to neglect education. They provided for it in a way 
that did not require public record at the time. 

In 1 70 1 the penalty imposed by the legislature upon 
towns for, neglecting to provide grammar schools was 
twenty pounds. It was required that " the schoolmaster 
should be appointed by the ministers of the town and the 
ministers of the two next adjacent towns, or any two of 
them, by certificates under their hands." 

These early resolves concerning schools and education 
indubitably prove two things : first, that our Puritan 
Fathers believed that the establishment of schools was a 
duty they owed to justice and humanity, to freedom and 
religion ; and, second, that they had resolved that these 
schools should be free. Here, then, was a new idea 
introduced to the world, — free schools ! And, from free 
schools and congregational churches, what could result but 
repiiblicanisni f They held our Republic as the acorn holds 
the oak. It is important to state that free schools origi- 
nated in Massachusetts. 

In 1671 Sir William Berkeley, first governor of Vir- 
ginia, writes to the king thus : — 

" I thank God there are no free schools nor printing-presses here, 
and I trust there will not be this hundred years; for learning breeds 
up heresies and sects and all abominations. God save us from 
both ! " 

Now look at Massachusetts. The Rev. John Robinson, 
before the Pilgrims left Leyden, charged them to build 
churches, establish schools, and read the Bible without 



282 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

sectarian prejudice. He said, "I am convinced that God 
has more light yet to break forth out of his holy word. 
Receive such light gladly." Our fathers acted on this 
wise, Christian, and republican advice, and engaged Phile- 
mon Purmount "to teach the children ; for which he was 
to be paid thirty acres of ground by the public authori- 
ties." How accordant this with that noble resolve of New 
England, to establish a college, " to the end that good 
learning may not be buried in the graves of our fathers " ! 
It is cheering to read in the early records of Medford, 
when a special town-meeting was called for this only pur- 
pose, — viz., "to see if the town will have a school kept 
for three months," — to find every voter in favor of it, and 
at the end of this vote appending these immortal words, — 
" and THIS SCHOOL shall be free." 

Here we have, in short compass, the different begin- 
nings and opposite policies of two settlements : the one 
anathematizing free schools and printing-presses ; the 
other doing all it can for free inquiry, universal culture, 
and progressive truth. The natural result of one system 
is to overrun a state with slavery, darken it with ignor- 
ance, pinch it with poverty, and curse it with irreligion : 
the natural result of the other is to fill a state with free- 
men, to enlighten it with knowledge, to expand it with 
wealth, and to bless with Christianity. 

We should never cease to thank God that our ancestors, 
though surrounded by savage foes and doomed to poverty 
and self-denial, laid deep the foundations of that system 
of common schools which is now the nursery of intel- 
ligence, the basis of virtue, the pledge of freedom, and 
the hope of the world. 

The course of instruction was narrow and partial. Each 
hungry child got a crust, but no one had a full meal. The 
New-England Primer was the first book, the spelling-book 
the second, and the Psalter the last. Arithmetic and writ- 
ing found special attention ; grammar and geogra[)hy were 
thought less needful. The school was opened and closed 
with reading the Scriptures and the offering of prayer. 
The hours were from nine to twelve o'clock, and from one 
to four. Thursday and Saturday afternoons were vacations. 

For the next fifty years the inhabitants of Medford sup- 
ported their schools at as cheap a rate as they could, be- 
cause their means were not abundant. The spirit was 
willing, but the flesh was weak. The Rev. Mr. Porter 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 283 

acted as private teacher, and doubtless rendered great help 
to the cause of education. 

1700: Neal says, "Hardly a child of nine or ten years 
old, throughout the whole country, but can read and write, 
and say his catechism." 

Nov. 30, 1719, a special meeting was held, "to see if a 
school shall be established for four months. Voted in the 
affirmative. Also voted that the town will allow Mr. Davi- 
son three pounds money for keeping the school the time 
above said, and also to diet him for the town." Hereto- 
fore schools had been kept in private houses ; but Feb. 
22, 1720, it was voted to build a schoolhouse. 

Dec. 12, 1720 : Two schools proposed and organized for 
the first time ; one for the west end, and the other for the 
east. Mr. Caleb Brooks was engaged to keep the west 
school for three months, at two pounds per month ; Mr. 
Henry Davison the east, at the same price. 

In these ways, primary instruction was provided for. 
Although, in their votes, they used the word "established," 
it could not be strictly true ; for there was no school 
established as we understand the term. Money raised for 
schools was not at first put among the town charges, 
but raised as a separate tax. Schools were any thing but 
perennial : they could hardly be dignified with the title of 
semi-annual, and sometimes almost deserved the sobri- 
quet of ephemeral. At first they were kept in a central 
" angle," or " squadron," which meant district ; the next 
improvement was to keep a third of the time in one ex- 
tremity, a third in the opposite, and a third in the centre. 
Sometimes the money raised for the support of the school 
was divided according to the number of polls, and some- 
times according to the number of children. The church 
and the school were, with our fathers, the alpha and omega 
of town policy. 

Oct. 5, 1730: "Voted to build a new schoolhouse." 
Same day : " Voted to set up a reading and writing school 
for six months." 

March 11, 1771 : "Voted to build the schoolhouse upon 
the land behind the meeting-house, on the north-west cor- 
ner of the land." 

1776: "Voted that the master instruct girls two hours 
after the boys are dismissed." 

By a traditional blindness, we charitably presume it must 
have been, our early fathers did not see that females re- 



284 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

quired and deserved instruction equally with males ; we 
therefore find the first provisions for primary schools con- 
fined to boys. As light broke in, they allowed girls to at- 
tend the public school two hours per day ; and it was not 
until April 5, 1790, that the question was formally con- 
sidered. On that day, a committee was chosen to inquire 
" if it be expedient for girls to attend the master's 
school." The committee wisely recommended the affirm- 
ative ; whereupon, at the next town-meeting, it was voted 
" that girls have liberty to attend the master-school during 
three summer months." 

June 20, 1794: "Voted that females attend the mas- 
ter-school separately, from the ist of May to the ist of 
October, four hours each day ; and that the boys attend 
four hours each day, — Thursday and Saturday afternoons 
being vacations." Same date: " Voted, that no children, 
whether male or female, be admitted into the public school 
under the age of seven years, nor then unless they have 
been previously taught to read the English language by 
spelling the same ; and as this regulation will probably 
exclude many who have heretofore attended, therefore it is 

" Voted, that the selectmen are hereby empowered to 
pay school-mistresses for instructing those children who 
are excluded from the public town-school, and whose 
parents are unable to defray such extra expenses. 

"And as the great end of the public school is to furnish 
the youth with such a measure of knowledge that they 
may be able to read and write with propriety, and under- 
stand so much of arithmetic as may fit them for the 
common transactions of life ; therefore. Voted, that the 
selectmen and school-committee be desired from time to 
time to make such regulations in the school as may best 
answer the above purposes." 

The course of study was, for the most part, meagre and 
impoverishing. The healthy curiosity of the mind was fed 
on the dryest husks of grammar, arithmetic, spelling, and 
reading. Whatever could be turned to pecuniary gain was 
the great object in the selection of studies. Webster's 
Spelling-book, American Preceptor, Young Lady's Acci- 
dence, Pike's Arithmetic, and Morse's Geography, were 
the mines out of which pupils were commanded to dig 
the golden ores of all useful knowledge. The books were 
made with very slight apprehension of a child's mode or 
thought. They seemed to take for granted that the pupil 



HISTORY OF MEDFOKD. 285 

knew the very things they proposed to teach him. They 
abounded with rules, without giving any instruction con- 
cerning the principles out of which the rules rose. It 
was somewhat like lecturing on optics to the blind, or on 
music to the deaf. 

May 5, 1795 : On this day, the town voted to build a 
brick schoolhouse behind the meeting-house. They agreed 
"to give William Woodbridge two hundred and twenty 
pounds, with the old schoolhouse, to build it." This house 
consisted of one large room, sufficient for sixty or seventy 
children, and was arranged after the newest models, and 
furnished with green blinds. On the north side sat the 
girls, and on the south the boys, constantly tempting each 
other to laugh and play. 

March i, 1802: "Voted that the 'Royal' donation be 
appropriated to pay the schooling of poor children, as last 
year." 

May 6, 1805 : Voted to procure a lot for a schoolhouse 
near Gravelly Bridge. Voted " to choose a committee to 
look out a piece of land at the west end of the town, procure 
materials (for a schoolhouse), and report their doings at 
March meeting." 

March 7, 1807: Voted to enlarge the schoolhouse, and 
dig a well. After this was done, the girls and boys were 
taught in separate rooms. Until this time there had been 
but one public free school in the town, and this was all 
that was then deemed necessary. It was taught by an 
accomplished master through the year. After this time 
two schools were not too many, and the town cheerfully 
sustained them. No provision had been made for what 
are now called " primary schools ; " and therefore every 
parent was obliged to pay for the schooling of his children 
until they had reached the age of seven, when they could 
lawfully enter the grammar school. So late as 181 3, chil- 
dren under seven years of age were, by vote, prohibited 
from entering the grammar schools. 

The "dame-schools," or, as they were often called, the 
"marm-schools," were numerous. Twelve cents per week, 
paid on each Monday morning, secured to each pupil an 
abundance of motherly care, useful knowledge, and salu- 
tary discipline. After all, these schools were more impor- 
tant to society than the march of armies or the sailing of 
fleets ; for they laid well the first foundation-stones of that 
immortal edifice, — human character. 



286 H/STORV OF MEDFORD. 

Since 1799 a law had existed in the town, pledging it 
to pay for the instruction of poor children at the dame- 
schools. 

Whittling seems native to New-England boys. March 
7, 1808, the town voted to repair the seats and benches in 
the schoolhouse. 

In 18 1 7 female teachers for the female department were 
preferred. They taught through six months only. In 
18 1 8, when Medford had two hundred and two families, 
the expenses of the schools were as follows : — 

Master for one year, at $20 per month $240 

Board for the same, at $3 per week 156 

Master, four months, at %^o per month 80 

Board for the same, at $3 per week 52 

Three female teachers twenty-five weeks each, at $4 300 

Rent for schoolhouses for female schools 45 

$873 

April 7, 1823: Voted to build a new schoolhouse "on 
the front line of the burying-place." 

Nov. I, 1824: Voted to divide the town into two dis- 
tricts, to be called Eastern and Western; and the $1,200 
voted this year for the support of the schools was to be 
divided equally between the districts. In 1825 the num- 
ber of children in Medford under fourteen years of age was 
525 ; and the thickening of population in new places made 
it necessary to multiply schoolhouses, and scatter them 
over the whole territory. 

1829 : Voted to build a schoolhouse of wood, in the west 
part of the town. This was placed on the Woburn road, 
on land bought of Jonathan Brooks, Esq. In 183 1 it was 
removed and placed near the almshouse, on land belong- 
ing to the town. 

The primary schools were taught by females, but not 
continued through the winter till 1837. 

At this period a wave of unusual interest in educational 
matters was passing over many of the States, and attained 
its greatest height in Massachusetts. In 1830 the Amer- 
ican Institute of Instruction was organized, which, though 
national in name and object, was largely composed of 
Massachusetts men. It aimed at reform and progress, 
and proved itself most efficient in accomplishing its ex- 
alted purpose. A royal impulse was imparted to the 
educational machinery of our State, which from that time 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 287 

beo'an to work with wonderful activity. Favoring laws 
were enacted. A State Board of Education was estab- 
lished. Normal schools sprang into existence, and the 
public schools of the State soon began to assume the 
form and features they wear at the present day. 

Among the foremost workers in this reform was one of 
Medford's own sons, — one whose memory is still fragrant 
among us, and to whom the town, owes perpetual gratitude 
for the labor devoted, in later years, to her own schools, 
and to the rescue of her early history from oblivion. 

The difficulty of firing the masses with the zeal of the 
leaders, together with Mr. Brooks's persistency of effort 
and the ultimate triumph of his cause, will readily appear 
from the following letter, published first in the "Old Col- 
ony Memorial " at Plymouth, and afterwards copied into 
the "Common School Journal." The introduction by the 
editor will sufficiently explain its origin. 

"MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOLS. 

" The communications in our former numbers respecting the Bridge- 
water Normal School and the late annua! address before the pupils, 
have induced a friend of I\Ir. Brooks to write liim, and ask about his 
first movements in the Old Colony. He reluctantly yielded to write 
an account; but, as it connects itself so closely with the cause of edu- 
cation in our Commonwealth, we think our readers may be glad to see 
it. — Old Colony Memorial. 

"Boston, Sept. 2, 1S45. 

" Mv DEAR Sir, — "Viou ask me to print my address delivered at 
Bridgewater before the Normal School. I thank you for the compli- 
ment implied in such a request; but, my friend, the time has passed 
for such a necessity. Our battle with ignorance and prejudice has 
been fought in the Old Colony, and the victory is ours ; and there had 
better not be any parade of the old soldiers quite yet. Some educa- 
tional antiquary, in his pardonable weakness, may show my lectures 
fifty years hence, as they sometimes show old cannon. They are fast 
growing into the sear andj^/Zt'w leaf; so pray excuse me. 

"You ask about the educational movements in the Old Colony with 
which I was connected. The story is very short, and to most persons 
must be very uninteresting. 

"While in Europe, in 1833, I became interested in the Prussian 
system of education. I sought every occasion to enlarge my knowl- 
edge of its nature and action. A good opportunity came to me with- 
out my seeking it. The King of Prussia had sent Dr. Julius of 
Hamburg to this country, for the purpose of collecting information 
concerning our prisons, hospitals, schools, etc. I happened to meet 
the doctor in a literary party in London, and he asked me to become 
his room-mate on board ship. I did so, and for forty-one days was 
with him listening to his descriptions of German and Prussian sys- 
tems of instruction. I was resolved to attempt the introduction of 



288 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

several parts of the system into the United States. I formed mj> 
plan, and commenced operations by a public announcement, and an 
address at Hin^ham. I found some who understood and appreciated 
my views, and I worked on with a new convert's zeal. In 1835 ^ 
wrote and published; but few read, and fewer still felt any interest. 
I was considered a dreamer, who wished to fill our republican Com- 
monwealth with monarchical institutions. There were some amusincj 
caricatures of me published, to ridicule my labors. These did me 
more good than harm. I worked with precious few encouragements. 
I occupied Thanksgiving Day of 1S35 in advocating, in a public ad- 
dress, my plan for normal schools. I took my stand upon this Prus- 
sian maxim, ^ As is the tcaclier, so is tlie school.^ I thought the wliole 
philosophy was summed up in that single phrase, ««ci' /////;/ -^ j-^? j-////. 
I accordingly wrote all my lectures with reference to the establish- 
ment of normal schools. I now began to lecture before lyceums and 
conventions, and had many stormy debates, and a wonderful scarcity 
of compliments. The noise and dust of battle began at last to bring 
many to the comitia, until we got quite a respectable carnptis inartius. 
I thought there was one place where I could rely on intelligence and 
patriotism, and there I resolved to go. I accordingly published in 
the newspapers, that a convention would be gathered at Phmouth, in 
court week, ' to discuss the expediency of establishing a normal school 
in the Old Colony,' The friends of common schools assembled, and 
a private room held us all. But soon the truth spread, and my 
friends in Hingham and Plymouth came up generously to the work. 
We felt that the two great ideas of the church and the schoolhouse, 
which our Pilgrim Fathers brought to this shore, were to be carried 
out, and ever trusted in God they would. 

" But this narrative is growing too long. In a few words, then, let 
me add, that I found conventions to be the best missionaries of the 
truth ; and I gathered them in Plymouth, Duxbury, New Bedford, 
Bridgewater, Kingston, Hanover, Hanson, etc. The Old Colony was 
ready to take the lead ; and we began with petitions and memorials 
to the Legislature, all recommending the establishment of normal 
schools. How many hundred pages I wrote on this subject during 
1834-6, I dare not say. It was the subject of my thoughts and prayers. 
The wisdom of the Prussian scheme recommended itself to the reflect- 
ing ; and. as I had studied it, I was invited to lecture in each of the 
New-England States. I went to Portsmouth, Concord, Nashua, and 
Keene, N.H. ; to Providence and Newport, R.I.; to Hartford, Conn. ; 
to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. I went through our own 
State, holding conventions at the large central towns. .Vll this time I 
seemed to have little real success. I began to despair. I returned, 
after two vears of excessive toil, to mv professional duties, conclud- 
ing that the time had not yet come for this great movement. One 
evening, in January, 1837, I was sitting reading to my family, when a 
letter was brought me from the friends of education in the Massa- 
chusetts Legislature, asking me to lecture on my hobby subject before 
that body. I was electrified with joy. The whole heavens, to my 
eve, seemed now filled with rainbows. Jan. 18 came, and the hall 
of the House of Representatives was perfectly full. I gave an ac- 
count of the Pnissian system, and they asked if I would lecture 
again. I consented, and, the next evening, endeavored to show ho-w 
far the Prussiati system could be safely adopted in the United States. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 289- 

«' Here my immediate connection -with the cause may be said to 
stop; for one of my auditors, the Hon. Edmund Dwight, after this, 
took the matter into' his hands, and did for it all a patriot could ask. 
He o'ave 5 10,000 for the establishment of normal schools, on con- 
dition the State would give as much. This happily settled the 
matter. A ' Board of Education ' was established, and they found 
the man exactly suited to the office of secretary ; and at Worcester, 
Auo-. 25, 1S37, I had the satisfaction of congratulating the American 
Institute, in a public address, on the realization of wishes which they 
had for years cherished. Mr. Mann entered upon his labors that 
day, and' the results are gladdening the whole country. May God 
still smile on this cause ofcauses, until schools shall cover the whole 
world with knowledge, and Christianity shall fill it with love! 

"My friend, do 'not misinterpret my letter by supposing that I 
originated these ideas. Oh, no! They were picked up by me in 
Europe. There had been an attempt at a teachers' seminary at 
Lancaster; and the American Institute, unknown to me, had dis- 
cussed the subject before I was a member; and the idea was not a 
new one. All J did was to bring it from Europe with me, and talk 
about it, and write about it, until the Old Colony adopted it. I 
hope the many early friends I had there will believe me when I 
say, that, without their generous and steady co-operation, I should 
have failed in my plans. The normal schools are of Prussian 
origin, but let us not mourn on that account. The beautiful foun- 
tain of Arethusa sank under the ground in Greece, and re-appeared 
in Sicily; but I have never read that the Sicilians mourned for the 
appearance of that foreign blessing among them. 

" Bespeaking your patient forbearance under this epistolary inflic- 
tion, I am, as ever, yours truly, Charles Brooks." 

Medford may well be proud of a son who could honestly 
write such things of himself. And she may also be 
proud of another of her sons, the Rev. William Channing 
Woodbridge (H. C. 181 1), who at a somewhat earlier 
period, as editor of the " Annals of Education," and in 
other ways, labored successfully for the great cause of 
school-reform. His Modern School Geography and Atlas, 
so long the popular text-books on that subject, are proofs 
of his eminent ability and enthusiasm. 

The new interest awakened in the cause of elementary 
instruction produced its effects readily in this town. 

March 3, 1834: "Voted that the school-committee be 
directed so to arrange the town schools that the girls 
shall enjoy equal privileges therein with the boys through- 
out the year." This tardy justice to the female sex was 
not peculiar to Medford ; and we are now amazed that the 
Anglo-Saxon men, living in a free commonwealth and 
professing the Christian religion, should have needed two 
hundred years to convince them that girls have an equal 
right with boys to all physical, intellectual, and moral 
development. 



290 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

The improvement resulting from this vote seems to 
'have been unsatisfactory ; for we find that at the March 
meeting in 1835 a special committee was chosen "to in- 
•quire into the different and best methods of conducting 
ipublic :schools, and to report what improvements, what 
number and kind of schools, are necessary in this town to 
qualify every scholar, who desires an education, for the 
active duties of life." 

The committee ^reported in print at the April meeting 
of that year, and did it so effectively that $500 were then 
added to the school appropriation made in March ; and one 
month later the schools were graded, and a high school 
put into operation. 

Our high school is supposed to have been but the second 
or third organized in the State for the free co-education 
of the sexes in the higher branches of learning. This 
fact shows that Medford had men at that period who 
planned in advance of their times. Prominent among 
those men were the Rev. Caleb Stetson and Deacon Galen 
James, who, though representing different religious classes 
and different social elements, worked here in beautiful 
harmony ; the wit, tact, and enthusiasm of the former 
combining effectively with the energy, perseverance, and 
practical common sense of the latter, to silence opposition 
and secure the desired result. 

Of others who worked harmoniously with the above- 
named for that re-organization of the schools, which for 
a half-century has been yielding most precious fruit, it 
cannot be regarded as invidious here to record the names 
of James O. Curtis, John C. Magoun, Milton James, and 
Horatio A. Smith. 

The population of the town at that time was much less 
than half its present number : yet, within a dozen years 
of its birth, the high school numbered more than ninety 
pupils. Admission to it was, of course, far easier than 
by the inexorable examination of later times. Though 
classical study was early introduced, it was found prac- 
tically impossible, with a very few exceptions, to give a 
thorough preparation for college until the requirements 
for admission had been largely increased, and a third 
teacher had been appointed. This was effected in 1867, 
and statistics introduced farther on will abundantly show 
that noble work in this direction has from that year been 
accomplished. 





^€ 




ty,. kZ-^^^^^^-^^^-^j^^^ 




HISTORY OF MED FORD. 29 1 

A fourth teacher was added in 1 881, to round out still 
farther the privilege of securing that special training which 
is best adapted to each pupil's needs and tastes. 

A new house having been erected for the school in 1843, 
it was then removed from its birthplace in the rear of the 
Unitarian meeting-house to its present home. In 1866 
the dimensions of that home (which had been shared with 
the Centre Grammar School till 1863) were largely in- 
creased by land purchased from the Magoun estate; the 
building was moved a short distance toward the south- 
west, and turned one-quarter round ; a cellar was sub- 
stituted for the brick basement ; a stair-tower was erected ; 
and the entire structure was arranged for and dedicated 
to the use of the high school. 

The first master of the school was Mr. Charles Mason, 
who remained but a short time, and left the teacher's pro- 
fession for that of the law. His successor, Mr. Luther 
Farrar, taught eight months. He also entered the legal 
profession. Mr. Daniel H. Forbes was elected in 1836, 
and resigned in 1841 to accept a mastership in Charles- 
town. Mr. Isaac Ames succeeded him for three years, 
and, afterwards becoming a lawyer, was for many years 
judge of probate and insolvency for Suffolk County. The 
position was next given to Mr. M. T. Gardner for a few 
months ; and in September, 1844, to Mr. Edwin Wright, 
who, after one year, relinquished it for a mastership in the 
Eliot School in Boston. Following the example of most 
of his predecessors, he too became a lawyer, and was for 
some years judge of the Municipal Court of Boston. His 
successor, Mr. James Waldock, resigned at the close of 
the school year in 1846, and was succeeded by Mr. Charles 
Cummings, who, enjoying the confidence of the town, as 
well as the esteem and love of his pupils, held the position 
till July, 1876, to be then followed by the present esti- 
mable and successful incumbent, Mr. Lorin L. Dame. 

From the first establishment of graded schools, the town 
has been fortunate in the appointment of its grammar 
masters ; and they would be individually referred to in 
this place, did not our space forbid more than the brief- 
est mention of a few who earliest held that responsible 
position. 

In the East District, from 1833 to 1838, was Mr. A. B. 
Magoun, who afterwards taught a grammar school in 
Cambridge for forty-three years. His successor was Mr. 



292 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Stacy A. Baxter, who later achieved a wide reputation as 
principal of a private school in Boston, and as a teacher 
of elocution, of which art he was chosen professor in 
Harvard University. 

Back of the meeting-house, in 1833, was Mr. Thomas 
S. Harlow, a man with whose honorable life the town has 
been well acquainted from that day to the present. From 
1835 to 1838, the school was in the hands of Mr. B. F. 
Tweed, who, in the next forty years, held several high 
educational offices, among which, for nine years, was the 
professorship of rhetoric, logic, and English literature in 
Tufts Colle^'e. He was followed by Mr. James G. Foster, 
Mr. Benjamin F. Oilman, and, in 1842, by Mr. Thomas 
Starr King, whose reputation as a preacher and philan- 
thropist extended in later years from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific coast. 

Below are the names of the twelve teaching in the pub- 
lic schools in December, 1842, and of those since elected, 
with the year of their election. Those, eighty-four in 
number, educated in the Medford High School, are indi- 
cated by a *, and those still in service by a f. 



Isaac Ames. 
♦Frances Gregg. 

Stacv A. Baxter. 
*Mary W. Keen. 

Tliomas Starr King. 
*Almira J. Stetson. 
*Sarah E. Sparrell. 
*Mary Ann Clough. 
*Sarah E. Cram. 
*AIatilda T. James. 
♦Elizabeth C. Graves. 

Pamelia Symmes. 

1843. 
Aaron K. Hathaway. 

1S44. 

M. T. Gardner. 
Edwin Wright. 
S. A. Townsend. 
*Mary Gleason. 

1845. 

James Waldock, jun. 
*Helen ]\I. Curtis. 



*Mary E. Peck. 
*Mary E. Sprague. 
*Maria B. Fuller. 

1846. 

Charles Cummings. 
♦Angelina Wellington. 

Mary W. Wilder. 
♦Maria L. Sanborn. 

Miss S. E. Woodbridge. 
♦Sarah A. Pratt. 
♦Mary L. Richardson. 

1847. 

Miss E. C. Rowland. 
Miss L. A. H. Winnek. 
Lucretia Foster. 

1848. 

Stephen Gilman. 
Paul H. Sweetser. 
Cynthia A. Horton. 
♦Susan E. Withington. 
Miss M. M. Wier. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



293 



1849. 

[ Elizabeth James. 
*Helen A. Gale. 
*Hannah M. Binney. 

I 1850- 

I *Eliza A. Hadley. 

S. Isabella Sylvester. 
: *Helen A. Hooper. 

1851. 

Oren S. Knapp. 

George W. Standish. 

Margaret A. Richards. 
*Ann A. Binney. 
*Georgianna K. Dyer. 

Mary J. Dodge. 

Althea F. Thompson. 

Jane McLane. 
*Garafilia IVI. Sanborn. 

Jane L. Case. 

1852. 

Martha E. Pritchard. 
*C. Fannie Barr. 
*tHettie F. Wait. 
JRufus Sawyer. 
*Wallace St. C. Redman. 

1853. 

James Sumner. 

Joseph H. Noyes. 
*Emily E. Davis. 
*.Mary T. Davis. 
*t Alice E. Gushing. 
*C. Ellen Loveren. 
*Ann E. Perkins. 

Mrs. E. H. Whiteliouse. 

Miss A. E. Hunt. 

1854. 

George H. Goreley. 
Lucretia A. Holland. 
*Mary C. Clisby. 
Miss E. P. Winning. 

1855. 

Miss E. T. Blanev. 
Miss S. A. Crowell. 
Miss L. M. Hunt. 



1856. 

Marianna H. Everett. 
Ellen M. Marcy. 
Carrie L. Perry. 
Miss E. S. Bailey. 
Zelinda L. Barnes. 

1S57. 

Mary A. Osgood. 

N. E. Gage. 

George R. Bradford. 

Amanda H. Porter. 

Zipporah Sawver. 
*Martha A. Beck. 
*L. Maria Stetson. 

1858. 

Mary Proctor. 

Miss M. F. Dillingham. 

Emily A. Hanna. 

1859. 

*Clara W. Egery. 

1S60. 

Arabella L. Babcock. 
Sophia R. Earle. 
Ellen J. Church. 
*Louisa M. Symmes. 

1861. 

Emily J. Leonard. 
Susan B. Leeds. 
Abby V. Getchell. 
*ElIen M. Barr. 
Mary E. Hayden. 
Eliza B. Barry. 

1862. 

Ella F. Snelling. 
*Emma S. Crouch, 

1863. 

Charles A. Home. 

Anna A. Wilson. 

Sarah A. Fales. 
*Addie E. Dean. 
*EIlen M. Pratt. 
*Hattie O. Emery. 



294 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



1864. 

Samuel C. Hunt. 

Emily J. Odell. 
*Ella L. Burbank. 

Isabella C. Perry. 

Mary Ginn. 
*Julia Barker. 

Emerette O. Patch. 

1865. 

*I\Iaria L. Oliver. 
*Caroline B. Russell. 
*tEllen iM. Lane. 

1866. 

Augusta N. Osg-ood. 

Jacob O. Sanborn. 
fBenjamin F. Morrison. 
*Julia A. Warner. 

Lizzie J. Dean. 

1867. 

Edward A. Drew. 

Brooks P. Merritt. 
*Ann J. Wild. 
*Abby S. Morrill. 

1868. 

Franklin Jacobs. 

John S. Hayes. 
♦Martha A. Sampson. 
♦Caroline Gushing. 

Mrs. Sarah K. Dean. 
*Lizzie E. Tufts. 

Edwin W. Cross. 

1869. 

George C. Travis, jun. 
Abby J. Drew. 
* Agnes E. Hathaway. 

1870. 

Anna S. Osgood. 
*fMinnie L. Cotton. 
Henry Chase. 
Mary G. Carleton. 

1871. 

Rosa H. Treadwell. 
Miss F. M. Kinn;. 



♦Marietta T. Reed. 
♦flda L. Hartshorn. 

Charles B. .Saunders. 

William H. White. 

Minton Warren, 
♦fjennie W. Waterman. 

1873- 

Elizabeth L. Madigan. 
♦Lizzie A. Mitchell. 

Ellen M. Aver. 

Miss L. H.'Shaw. 
♦Anna B. Goodwin. 

Mary F. Camp. 
♦Mary E. Vaughan. 
♦fH. Horence Burbeck. 

1874. 

Ida M. Oliver. 
Fred T. Farnsworth. 
Mrs. M. E. Crane. 

1S75. 

Lilla M. Barnard. 
Miss F. M. Davis. 
♦Fanny G. Waterman. 
♦fAddie M. Hollis. 
♦Carrie A. Teele. 
♦fEliza M. Gill. 

1876. 

Homer C. Strong. 

Miss J. M. Willi'ams. 

Miss J. E. Metcalf. 

Miss S. F. Hamblin. 
fLoren L. Dame. 
fLouis F. Hobbs. 

Edwin P. Sanborn. 

1877. 

fL. J. Manning. 
fCaroline E. Swift, 
♦f Annie E. Durgin. 

1878. 

Miss S. M. George. 

Mabel W. Saxe. 
♦Emma D. Hadley. 
fMartha E. Hayes. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



295 



1879. 
♦fEmma F. Gill. 
*tHelen T. Wild. 
*tAcldie S. Herriott. 
Carrie E. Bullard. 

1880. 

tjohn H. Ward well. 
*Lilly B. Atherton. 
*Ger'trude Samson. 
*Leonora B. Bloom. 

18S1. 

•j-Genevieve Sargent. 
*Cora D. Farmer. 
flMiss H. iM. Eckman. 

1882. 

♦fNellie R. Sampson. 
*Lizzie B. Newhall. 
♦■j-Amy W. Jones. 



1883. 

Dora B. Moody. 
*tElla L. Alden. 



Florence N. Robbins. 
jMary L. Poland. 
fEvelyn P. Huntington. 

Jeanne Kimberley. 
fGertrude S. Light. 
*Sarah M. Peasley. 

1885. 

fFlora I. Towle. 
*tjessie M. Dinsmore. 

tjulia R. White. 
*t Emily A. Hobbs. 

fElla A. Leighton. 
*tEmma A. Davis. 
*fFannie A. Nickerson. 



Some of the changes which the school system has ex- 
perienced may here be noticed. 

Within forty years the sessions of thirty-three hours 
per week for forty-eight weeks in the year have, through 
many steps, been reduced to twenty-six hours per week 
for each of the forty weeks of required work. 

1862. Music became a regular study in the high and 
grammar schools ; and Professor Henry G. Carey was 
elected to instruct each of those schools one hour per 
week. Since 1870 the intermediate and primary schools 
have shared his instruction one half-hour each two weeks, 
the regular teachers supplementing his work by a daily 
drill. Pianos, purchased mainly with money earned by 
the children in concerts given under Mr. Carey's direction 
in the town-hall, are used in the five higher schools. 

1866. An evening school for the benefit of persons 
over fifteen years of age, and beyond the reach of the day 
schools, was established, and has been continued since 
during a few months of each winter. 

1867. The course of study in the high school was re- 
duced, except for pupils in preparation for college, from 
four years to three, 

1873. Drawing was made a regular study in all the 
schools. Professor B. W. Putnam of Boston was employed 
that year to meet all the teachers in a series of practical 
lessons, which should qualify them each to instruct their 



296 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



own pupils. Great proficiency in the art has been the 
result. The high school alone has had the instruction of 
a special teacher in this department. 

The employment of a school supervisor was authorized 
by the town in 1873; and Mr. James A. Hervey was 
elected to that responsible position, and filled it with 
marked fidelity, discretion, and success for the next ten 
years. A successor has not yet been appointed. 

There were four male and twelve female teachers em- 
ployed by the town in 1854. Thirty-one years later there 
are six males and thirty females employed, besides the 
teachers in music and drawing. 

To show how promptly our town has taken the form and 
pressure of the times, we need only to state the annual 
expenditure for the support of the schools during the last 
fifty-three years. 

Commencing with 1832, when the appropriation was 
;^ 1,200, the average annual expenditure (exclusive of build- 
ings) for successive periods, together with the average 
number of pupils, and the cost for each, has been as fol- 
lows : — 

Periods. 

1 83 2-1 840 . . 

184I-1S5O . . 

185I-1860 . . 

1861-1870 . . 

187I-1880 . . 

1881-1885 . . 

The school-committee were elected annually till 1857, 
when the statute was so changed as to require the election, 
except for unexpired terms, to be for three years. 

The seven men holding that ofifice in 1846, and those 
elected since, with the year of their first election, and the 
number of years they have served since 1S45, are named 
below. 



Amount spent. 


No. of Pupils. 


Av. Cost. 


$2,339 • • 


Unknown . . 


Unknown 


3,909 . . 


(( 


" 


7,854 . . 


818 . . 


$9.60 


14,988 . . 


1,123 • • 


13-34 


27,368 . . 


1,193 . • 


22.95 


30,513 • • 


1,483 • • 


20.58 



Rev. Abijah R. Baker ... i 

Rev. Hosea Ballou, 2d, D.D. 4 

James O. Curtis 2 

Alexander Gregg 2 

Timothy Cotting 7 

Henry F. Teele 2 

Judah Loring i 

1847. 

Rev. Caleb Stetson .... i 

Hon. Sanford B. Perry ... 5 



Horatio A. Smith .... 4 
Robert L. Ells 6 



1848. 
Milton James . . 
A. K. Hathaway . 
John Taylor . . 
Benjamin R. Teele 

1S49. 
Oakman Joyce . . 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



297 



1S50. 

Henry Withington . . 
Charles S. Jacobs . . 

1851. 

Rev. Abner B. Warner . 
Rev. Edward K. Fuller- 
Henry Taylor . . . . 
Franklin Patch . . . 



1853- 
Thomas S. Harlow . 
Talbot T. Fowler 

1854. 

Edwin Wright . . . 
Samuel N. Sylvester 
Alvah N. Cotton . . 



1855. 

Hon. Elihu C. Baker 
Rev. Jacob M. Manning 
Rev. G. V. Maxham . 

1856. 

Rev. Thomas E. Keeley 
Hon. James M. Usher . 
Nathan Richards . . . 



1857. 

Rev. Charles Brooks 
George W. Gardner . . 
Thomas C. Newcomb . 

1858. 
George D. Porter . . 

i860. 

Rev. Eiias Nason . . 
Hon. Eleazar Boynton . 

1861. 

Rev. John S. Barry . . 
Rev. George I\I. Preston 



1864. 

Hon. Daniel A. Gleason 
Baxter E. Perry, Esq. . 

1865. 
El well Woodbury, M.D. 

1866. 
Alfred Tufts .... 
N. T. Merritt .... 



21 
3 



1867. 
Almarin F. Badger 
Godfrey Rider 



1 868. 
Rev. Charles H. Learoyd 
Hon. Benj. F. Hayes 
James A. Hervey . . 

1869. 
James Hedenberg, M.D. 
Edwin M. Cleaves . . 

1873. 
John C. Rand .... 
Rev. Solon Cobb . . . 



1874- 
J. Gilman Waite . 

1875. 
Zipporah Sawyer . 

1S77. 
Charlotte H. Perry 

1881. 
Charles N. Jones . 

1882. 
Charles F. Paige . 

1883. 
John L. Coffin, M.D. 

1885. 
William H. Breed , 



4 
6 

IS 



II 
9 
3 
4 



298 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

ACADEMIES. 

Medford has been famous for its excellent private 
schools. As early as 1790, Mr. William Woodbridge 
opened one for young ladies and boys, providing board 
in his own family for many who came from Boston and 
other places. He seems to have discovered, what is 
now so commonly known, that the surest way of having 
a select and full school was to ask the highest price. At 
first he met with some success in teaching, and educated 
several of the first women of the State. 

His academy was kept in the house formerly occupied 
by Col. Royal. At one time he had ninety-six girls and 
forty-two boys in his school. His sister and a male assist- 
ant were associated with him. 

Mr. Joseph Wyman of Woburn, who had kept the pub- 
lic school in Medford, built the house which, for more 
than a half-century, was owned by the Bigelow family, 
and there opened a private school for boys and girls. He 
taught only a few years. 

Mrs. Susanna Rawson, the proprietor of an overflowing 
boarding-school for girls in Boston, presuming that a 
country location would be better for herself and her 
pupils, canvassed various localities, and, settling upon 
Medford, leased Mr. Wyman's premises, and became his 
successor. That her school had many patrons, and was 
regarded with much favor by the town, is evinced by the 
following : — 

May 12, 1800. "Voted that the second and third seats in the 
women's side (gallery in the meeting-house be allowed Mrs. Rawson 
for herself and scholars ; and that she be allowed to put doors and 
locks on them." 

Mrs. Newton succeeded Mrs. Rawson, occupying the 
same house from 1803 to 1806. She was a native of Rhode 
Island, and sister of Gilbert Stuart, the painter. Her 
success was so great at one time, that she had sixty pupils, 
some of whom were foreigners, and many of them from 
neighboring States. Some of her pupils became distin- 
guished ladies in New England. 

The premises once occupied by these three popular 
schools, and tastefully improved by later occupants, are 
encompassed with pleasant memories. The writer, with 
many other citizens, can well recollect the two gardens 
of choice shrubbery in front of the buildings ; the double 



f HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 299 

row of stately trees fringing those gardens ; and the long 
avenue between them, which led from High Street to the 
mansion, and to the greenhouse in the rear. Those build- 
ings and most of those trees have disappeared ; and the 
grounds occupied by Mrs. Rawson's school {the most pop- 
ular, perhaps, at that time in the whole country) are now 
in the possession of Mr. J. W. Tufts and the Episcopal 
Church ; the apartment devoted to the Sunday school of 
that church being almost upon the identical spot which 
the schoolroom formerly covered. 

Dr. Luther Stearns (H. C. 1791) opened a classical 
school, first for girls, and afterwards for boys and girls, in 
his house, which fronted the entrance of Medford turn- 
pike, now known as Mystic Avenue. This was a board- 
ing-school, and but few children of Medford attended it. 
Dr. Stearns had been tutor of Latin at Cambridge, and 
ever showed a preference for that language. His school 
was filled with children from the first families of New 
England, with now and then a sprinkling of French and 
Spanish blood from the West Indies and other places. A 
kinder heart never beat in human bosom ; so kind and 
tolerant as to forbid that imperial rule and uncompro- 
mising decision so needful for a troop of boys. He pre- 
pared many young men for college. 

Dr. John Hosmer opened a private academy for boys, 
about the year 1806, and, by persevering fidelity, gained 
reputation. He built the large house on Forest Street, 
which, as our older readers will recollect, was afterwards 
occupied for so many years by Mr. John Angier for the 
same purpose. It has since been removed. He super- 
intended the amusements as well as the studies of his 
boarders. He was perhaps less of a scholar than a disci- 
plinarian ; yet he made skilful mathematicians and accom- 
plished linguists, because he made students. He taught 
his pupils the force of this sentence : Sic volo ; sic jiibeo ; 
Stat pro ratione voluntas. He was neither severe nor 
unreasonable ; for, under a soldier's sternness, there nes- 
tled something of a lover's good-will. 

In May, 181 1, Miss Ann Rose of London opened a 
day-school for girls in the brick edifice known as the 
" Fort " on " Governor's Lane ; " and in November, 181 2, 
she and Miss Hannah Swan of Medford converted it into 
a boarding-school, and soon found their house filled with 
young ladies from the best families in the State. The 



300 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

good influences of this academy can hardly be over-stated. 
Uniting extensive literary accomplishments with the high- 
est moral qualifications, these ladies performed their legis- 
lative and executive duties with dignity and quietness, 
and labored to give that instruction which develops all 
the powers for health, usefulness, and station. They lived 
to receive showers of blessings from grateful pupils. 

Mr. John Angier (H. C. 1821) opened a boarding-school 
for boys and girls, May i, 1821. Having already acquired 
a reputation as teacher, and being as highly esteemed as 
he was well known in Medford, his success came early 
and copiously. He devoted his whole mind and time to 
his duties, and had a crowded school as testimony to his 
fidelity and usefulness. For twenty years his school grew 
in popularity ; and there was general regret when his 
health compelled him to resign it in 1841. During his 
teaching he had five hundred new scholars : some remained 
seven years with him. Among his pupils he counted Chief 
Justice Gilchrist of New Hampshire, and Justice Benja- 
min R. Curtis of the Supreme Court of the United States. 

The many of both sexes whom he sent forth rejoicing 
in the way of knowledge and virtue will ever remember 
him with deepest gratitude. 

The private boarding-school for young ladies, taught 
for twenty-four years with signal success by Miss Eliza 
Bradbury, was deservedly ranked among the most useful 
seminaries within the neighborhood of Boston. Devoting 
herself to the most substantial and important branches 
of education, she produced the most durable and happy 
results. Her pupils were mostly from other towns, and 
several of them from the most elevated families. 

Mr. A. K. Hathaway (A. C. 1836), a man of ripe schol- 
arship and large experience in teaching, opened an Eng- 
lish and classical day-school on Ashland Street in 1846. 
Success attended his enterprise, and a boarding depart- 
ment was soon added, which received a respectable patron- 
age from this and other States, and from the island of 
Cuba. At the height of its prosperity the school was dis- 
persed by the death of its founder in i860. 

Other private schools, less extensive in numbers and of 
shorter duration, have done their share in the good work, 
and been a credit to the town. For more than half a 
century, the excellent schools of Medford have presented 
a strong inducement for strangers to settle among us. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



301 



GRADUATES OF COLLEGE FROM MEDFORD, WITH THE 
YEARS OF THEIR GRADUATION. 



[The suffixed abbreviations represent Amherst, Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Harvard, Tufts, Yale, 
Williams, and Massachusetts Agricultural Colleges, and Boston and Wesleyan Universities.] 



Thomas Tufts (H. C.) . 
John Tufts (H.C.) . . 
Simon Tufts (H. C.) . . 
Ammi R. Cutter (H. C.) . 
Joshua Tufts (H. C.) . . 
Simon Tufts (H. C.) . . 
William Whitmore (H. C.) 
Cotton Tufts (H. C.) . . 
Samuel Brooks (H. C.) . 
William Symmes (H. C.) 
Edward Brooks (H. C) . 
Simon Tufts (H. C.) . . 
John Bishop (H. C.) . . 
Ephraim Hall (H. C). . 
Cotton Tufts (H. C.) . . 
George H. Hall (H. C.) . 
John^Brooks (H. C.) . . 

Hall Tufts 

Aaron Hall Putnam (H. C.) 
Daniel Swan (H. C.) . . 
John Brooks (H. C.) . . 
Joseph Hall . . . . . 
William C. Woodbridge 
Edward Brooks (H. C.) . 
David Osgood (H. C.) . 
Andrew Bigelow (H. C.) . 
Gorham Brooks (H. C.) . 
Jonathan Porter (H. C.) . 
John P. Bigelow (H. C.) . 
Convers Francis (H. C). 
Charles Brooks (H. C.) . 
William Ward (H. C.) . 
Sidney Brooks (H. C.) . 
Thomas Savage Clay (H.C), 
William H. Furness (H. C), 
i:dward B. Hall (H. C.) . 
George B. Osborn (H. C.) 
Ward C. Brooks (H. C). 
Charles Angier (H. C.) . 
Elijah N. train (H. C.) . 
John James Gjlchrist (H.C.) 
Joseph Angier (H. C.) . 
Nathaniel Hall (H. C.) . 
George Clisby (VV. C.) . 
Thompson Kidder (W. C.) 
Horace James (Y. C.) . . 
Andrew D. Blanchard 
(H.C.) 



1 701 

1708 
1724 
1725 
1736 
1744 
1744 
1749 
1749 
1750 

1757 
1767 
1776 
1776 

1777 
1 78 1 
1787 

1794 
1800 
1803 
1805 
1S07 
1811 
1812 
1813 
1814 
1S14 
1814 
1815 
1815 
1816 
1816 
1819 
1819 
1820 
1820 
1S20 
1822 
1827 
1827 
1S28 
1829 
1834 
1S31 
1836 
1840 

1S42 



Horace D. Train (A. C). . 
Benjamin L. Swan (H. C.) . 
Timothy Bigelow (H. C.) . 
James A. Hervey (H. C.) . 
Albert F. Sawyer (H. C.) . 
Thomas Meriam Stetson 

(H.C.) 

George D. Porter (H. C.) . 
Peter C. Brooks (H.C). . 
Gorham Train (A. C) . . 
Samuel C Lawrence (H. C), 
William L. Thompson 

(D.C) 

Albert B.Weymouth (H.C), 
Geo. A. Newcomb (W. U.) . 
James B. Gregg (H. C) . . 
James R. Garret (H. C) 
Frank P. Stearns (H. C) . 
Barker B. Sherman (H. C), 
Thomas S. Davis (T. C) 
George L. Fernald (T. C.) . 
Dudley H. Bradley (H. C) . 
George W. Mills (M. A. C), 
Charles M. Green (H. C) . 
C Royal Wallace (Y. C) . 
James E. Cleaves (H.C.) . 
Frederic H. Kidder (H. C), 
Edmund T. Hastings (H.C), 
Richard J. Dwyer(H.C.) . 
Godfrey Rider, jun. (H C.), 
Charles A. Hamilton (H.C), 
Rosewell B. Lawrence 

(H. C) 

William B. Lawrence(H.C.), 
Nehemiah Boynton (A. C) . 
Lee Clafiin Hascall (B. U.) . 
John B. Gilman (H. C) . . 
William P. Martin (B. C) . 
Fred Gowing (T. C) . . . 
Edward W. Presho (T. C) . 
Frank P. Spaulding (D. C), 
Montgomery A. Crockett 

(H. C) 

William C Wait (H. C) . 
Christopher G. Plunkett 

(B.U.) 

George J. Porter (H. C) 
Philii? G. Wright (T. C) . 



842 

844 

845 

849 
849 

849 

851 
852 
852 
855 

858 
860 
863 
866 
867 
867 
870 
871 
871 
871 
873 
874 
874 
876 
876 
876 
877 

877 
878 

878 
879 
879 
879 
880 
881 
881 
881 
881 

8S2 
882 

882 
883 
884 



302 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

This library had its origin in the Medford Social Library, 
so called, which was founded in 1825, by a society, whose 
design, as set forth in their constitution, was to collect 
books, " promotive of piety and good morals," and to aid 
in "the diffusion of valuable information." 

The shares in the library were placed at one dollar each, 
and made subject to a tax of fifty cents a year. 

Each proprietor could take out two volumes at a time ; 
and any person, by paying ten dollars or more in one pay- 
ment, could become an honorary member for life, entitled 
to use books as a shareholder, without tax or assessment. 

By the will of Turell Tufts, Esq., who died in 1842, the 
interest of five hundred dollars was secured to this library, 
the principal being in charge of the town as a perpetual 
trust ; and it was provided that the income should be ex- 
pended annually for valuable books. 

This library served its patrons silently but effectively 
for thirty years. But its growth was not satisfactory ; 
and as the Legislature, in 185 i, had authorized towns to 
establish and maintain libraries by taxation to the extent 
of twenty-five cents for each ratable poll, it was thought 
that, by availing themselves of the act, the library asso- 
ciation could make their books, then numbering 1,125 
volumes, more useful to the town than they were. 

That thought became a public sentiment ; and at the 
annual town-meeting, March 12, 1855, Messrs. William 
Haskins, Judah Loring, and Charles Cummings were 
made a committee to confer with the trustees of the Social 
Library in regard to making its collection of books the 
property of the town, and in that way the basis of a larger 
public institution. 

This committee reported progress at a subsequent meet- 
ing ; and two hundred dollars were appropriated for the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 303 

town library, if satisfactory arrangements should be made 
with the stockholders of the Social Library. The com- 
mittee were continued in office, charged with the duty of 
consummating the work so well begun, and of making 
necessary rules and regulations for the management of 
the town library. 

They reported on the loth of March, 1856, the follow- 
ing compact : — 

The undersigned, committee of the trustees of the Medford Social 
Librar)', having been authorized at an adjournment of the last annual 
meeting of the stockholders of said library, to transfer, in behalf of 
said stockholders, the use of the books in said library, as the foun- 
dation of a permanent town library, to be supported and managed by 
the authority of the town ; and Messrs. William Haskins, Charles 
Cummings, and Judah Loring, having been chosen by the town in 
April last to act for the town in this matter : we agree by this writ- 
ing in behalf of said stockholders, to transfer to them, and through 
them to the town of Medford, the books, shelves, etc., of said Social 
Library, and also the annual income from the funds of said library ; 
said income to be applied for the benefit of said library ; reserving 
only to said stockholders the privilege of having said books, etc., re- 
turned to them in good order (reasonable wear excepted) whenever in 
the judgment of said stockholders the town does not jarovide reason- 
able care and good management for said books. 

(Signed) Peter C. Hall, > ^ .„ 

Alvah N. Cotton, \ Committee. 

Medford, Feb. 22, 1856. 

The report of the committee, including the library reg- 
ulations, was accepted and adopted ; and one hundred and 
fifty dollars were added to the appropriation made the 
preceding year. 

Charles Cummings, Peter C. Hall, and Alvah N. Cotton 
were chosen as the "Library Committee;" and they 
proceeded to purchase books, prepare a catalogue, and 
furnish a room in which to place the library. 

The room they furnished was on the second floor of the 
railway-station ; and the library, with about thirteen hun- 
dred volumes on its shelves, was first open to the public 
July 26, 1856. 

The name " Medford Social Library " was changed to 
that of '• Medford Tufts Library," in honor of Turell 
Tufts, whose bequest has been mentioned ; but the name 
was again changed, in 1866, by vote of the town, and the 
library was called "The Medford Public Library." 

The library hours were at first from two to four o'clock, 
and from seven to nine p.m. on Saturday only ; but this 



304 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

provision did not satisfy the public ; and the hours were 
gradually increased, until the library was open twenty- 
three hours every week. 

This institution so increased in prosperity, that it soon 
outgrew its accommodations, and in 1861 was removed to 
a commodious room in Usher's Block, on High Street, 
where it remained until 1869, when rooms were secured 
for it in the basement of the town-house, and tastefully 
fitted up by a committee appointed for that purpose, in 
whose hands was placed an appropriation of $500 by vote 
of the town, in March of the last-named year. 

A reading-room was opened, in connection with the 
library, under the general direction of the committee ; and 
its tables were well supplied with the prominent English 
and American reviews, magazines, and popular periodicals, 
together with cyclopaedias, dictionaries of several lan- 
guages, gazetteers, maps, etc., for general reference. 

The people of the town, young and old, frequented 
these rooms, and accorded to the very helpful institution 
their hearty commendation and increasing patronage. 
But progress was not to end there. The town had done 
nobly ; and to supplement its generous action, a citizen 
made to the town the following proposition : — 

Medford, Jan. 22, 1875. 

To THE Selectmen- of the Town of Medford, Mass. 

Gentlemen^ — Feeling a deep interest in the welfare and prosper- 
ity of my native town, I am induced to make the following commu- 
nication, with the request that it be laid before the town of Medford, 
at the annual meeting to be holden in March next. 

It has been very gratifying to me to notice the interest taken by 
the town in the support and maintenance of a Public Library for the 
use of its citizens, by the very liberal annual appropriation for that 
object ; and it has occurred to me that the time is not very far distant 
when a public building especially devoted to this purpose will be ab- 
solutely necessary. With this view of the case, I beg now to tender 
to the inhabitants of Medford in their corporate capacity the "Man- 
sion House" of my late honored father, situated on the northerly side 
of High Street, in this village, to be always retained by them, and to 
be forever devoted exclusively to the purpose of a town library, to- 
gether with so much of the land connected therewith, as is bounded 
and described as follows, viz. . . . and which contains about sixteen 
thousand three hundred and fifty-five square feet, more or less. 

And I also beg to offer to the town one thousand dollars to be 
devoted to the purpose of providing black-walnut slielves or book- 
cases, and otherwise furnishing the building (particularly the lower 
story) for librar^- purposes. 



^-J. 





HISTORY OF MED FORD. 305 

The building inside and outside has been recently put in the most 
perfect repair; and my intention is to present it to the inhabitants of 
Medford in their corporate capacity, just as it is, with all the expen- 
sive bronze gas-tixtures, marble statues and vases, water-fixtures, etc. 
Very respectfully your most obedient servant, 

Thatcher Magoun. 

Under date of March 5 of the same year, Mr. Magoun 
made another communication to the selectmen, in which 
he proposed to present, through them, to the town the 
sum of four thousand dollars, in addition to his first gift, 
to be expended, under the direction of the Library Com- 
mittee, in fitting and furnishing the Mansion House for a 
library building, and in the purchase of standard works 
for the enlargement of the library. 

At the town-meeting on the 8th of the same month, the 
citizens, by a rising vote, expressed their appreciation of 
the munificent gift, and unanimously accepted the same 
on the conditions specified by the donor. 

Messrs. Samuel C. Lawrence, Henry C. DeLong, James 
A. Hervey, James M. Usher, Joshua T. Foster, Dudley C. 
Hall, William C. Haskins, and James O. Curtis were then 
and there made a committee to wait upon Mr. Magoun, 
notify him of the action of the town, and tender to him 
its high appreciation of his thoughtful liberality. 

This committee were further instructed to request Mr. 
Magoun to sit for his portrait to be painted at the expense 
of the town by such artist as he should select, that it 
might, when completed, be placed upon the walls of the 
library building. 

The requisite writings having been made, the work of 
fitting up the building was at once entered upon. The L 
afforded ample room for the book-cases. The lower floor 
of the main building was devoted to waiting and reading 
rooms, and the upper rooms were reserved for the impor- 
tant uses which were soon found for them. 

The re-opening of the library, in its new quarters, June 
30, 1873, was an event of great public interest. Its doors 
were thrown open to the public, interesting ceremonies 
were observed, and illuminations made the occasion a bril- 
liant one, that was enjoyed by a large concourse of people. 

The portrait of Mr. Magoun, painted by Mr. J. Harvey 
Young of Boston, was hung in a prominent position in 
the reading-room. 

Other suggestive portraits also adorn the library walls. 



\o6 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



That of Mr. Magoun's father was copied at the son's ex- 
pense, expressly for the place it occupies. That of Gov. 
Brooks, painted (probably in i8i8) by that excellent artist, 
Mr. Frothingham of Charlestown, was presented to the 
town by Mrs. Dudley Hall, in 1868. Those of William H. 
Burbank and Sergeant Samuel M. Stevens, who fell in the 
war of the Rebellion, were donated by Gen. S. C. Law- 
rence. And the fine crayon head of the poet Whittier, 
executed by Mr. William A. Thompson of this town, was 
the united gift of several citizens. The large landscape 
painting of Mount Chocorua was the gift of Mr. John E. 
Richards ; and a picture of the Cradock House, by Was- 
son, was presented by Mr. N. P. Hallowell. 

But the residents of West Medford, by reason of their 
distance from the centre of the town, did not enjoy all the 
advantages which the library afforded to other citizens; 
and to accommodate them, a branch delivery was opened 
in 1876 in that precinct of the town, where books, for 
which orders were deposited on Tuesday or Friday morn- 
ing, could be received on the afternoon of those several 
days. This' provision gave great satisfaction, and thou- 
sands of volumes are annually given out at the branch 
delivery. 

In 1879 ^^''s town voted a special appropriation to pro- 
cure show-cases for minerals, metals, fossils, curiosities, 
and relics, to be placed in the upper rooms of the library 
building ; and the small collection then on hand, and thus 
provided for, was greatly increased the following year by 
a large and valuable collection of Indian curiosities, do- 
nated by James G. Swan, Esq., a native of Medford, but 
then a resident of Washington Territory. 

Thus a nucleus was formed for a cabinet that doubtless 
will afford through many years, especially to the young, a 
great amount of pleasure and profit. 

The following table gives, for the periods named, the 
average appropriation annually made for the library; also 
the average number of volumes annually purchased, do- 
nated, and issued : — 



PERIOD. 


APPROPRIATION. 


PURCHASED. 


DONATED. ISSrED. 


1856-60 . 


. $304 00 • 


. 223 . 


• 7 


. , not known 


1861-65 . 


350 GO . 


. 191 . 


• 7 


. . 1 2.967 


1866-70 . 


. . 780 00 . 


. 209 . 


• 37 


. . 13-527 


1871-75 . 


. 1,480 00 . 


• 432 . 


. lOO 


. . 21,375 


1876-80 . 


. . 1,500 00 . 


• 431 • 


• 49 


. . 28.435 


1881-83 . 


. . 1,600 00 , 


• 3^0 • 


• 31 


. . 24,544 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



307 



The dog-tax, which, agreeably to a statute passed in 
1869, the selectmen have credited to the library, has 
amounted in the aggregate to $7,468, or to about $533 
annually. 

The whole sum devoted to the library, exclusive of the 
Magoun gifts, but including the dog-tax, the interest on 
the Tufts fund, and four special appropriations, has 
amounted to $38,534. 

The volumes purchased (8,512), those received from the 
Social Library (1,125), ^"^1 those donated by individuals 
(1,097), made, Jan. i, 1884, a total of 10,734. Deducting 
those badly worn, and out of print, or rejected as unsuit- 
able, the number in good condition, at that date, was 9,453. 

The names of the successive members of the library 
committee, with the date of their several first elections, 
and the number of years they served, are seen in the fol- 
lowino- table : — 



Charles Cummings 
Peter C. Hall . . 
Alvah N. Cotton . 
Thomas S. Harlow 
Talbot T. Fowler . 
Charles Russell 
Elwell Woodbury . 
Eleazar Bo\nton . 
Lewis W. Osgood 
Samuel C. Lawrence 
Abner J. Phipps . 
Edward P. Hooper 
James A. Hervey . 
Henry C. DeLong 



1S56 II 

1S56 8 

1856 5 

1859 I 

1S61 3 

1865 2 

1865 I 

1S66 2 

1866 I 

1868 17 

1868 4 

186S I 

1869 16 

1872 13 



years 

years 

years 

year 

years 

years 

year 

years 

year 

years 

years 

year 

years 

years 



The librarians and assistant librarians have been the 
folio win 2: : — 



LIBRARIAN'S. 

Joseph P. Hall. 
Charles Cummings, 
Charles Russell. 
Edward P. Hooper. 
Edwin C. Burbank. 



ASSISTANTS. 



George D. Cummings. 
Ida E. Burbank. 
Eva T. Burbank. 
Mary J. Synimes. 
Hepsie W. Symmes. 



MEDFORD LIBRARY AND LYCEUM ASSOCL^TION. 

This institution was organized in the year 1857. In 
May of that year the following act of incorporation was 
granted : — 



308 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Be it enacted, etc., as follows : — 

James M. Usher, John Pierpont, jun., Henry W. Usher, their asso- 
ciates and successors, are hereby made a corporation, by the name of 
the iMedford Lyceum and Library Association, witli all the powers and 
privileges, and subject to all the'duties, liabilities, and restrictions set 
forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes, with power 
also to hold real and personal estate not exceeding the sum of twenty 
thousand dollars. 

After this, for several years, courses of lectures were 
given under the name of this organization. 

A small library was collected, which is still kept in ex- 
pectation of future growth. 

There is a small amount of money in the treasury of the 
association ; and the library, not yet large, is secure and 
well kept in good and sufficient book-cases. 

The intention of our citizens in West Medford is towards 
a larger interest in this important work ; and at a time, as 
we trust, not far distant, the work will receive new impe- 
tus, and go on to accomplish the good first intended by 
those who initiated it. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 309 



CHAPTER XIII. 

TUFTS COLLEGE. 

This institution of science, letters, and theology is situ- 
ated in the southerly part of Medford, on the most delight- 
ful and commanding eminence of the whole region around 
Boston. The site it occupies was formerly called Walnut 
Hill, because of the heavy growth of hickory with which 
it was covered when the town was settled ; but it now 
bears the name of the seat of learning by which it is 
crowned, and is called " College Hill." 

It is part of the farm which Mr. Charles Tufts, late of 
Somerville, received by inheritance ; and when he was 
asked by his relatives, what he would do with that "bleak 
hill over in Medford," he replied vvifh this singular proph- 
ecy : " I will put a light on it." 

The tract of land originally given by Mr. Tufts consisted 
of twenty acres, and the gift was conditioned upon its 
being made the site of a college that should bear his 
name. 

Subsequently he gave his pledge to add other valuable 
adjoining tracts ; and due credit should be given to the 
influence of Mr. Sylvanus Packard, another benefactor of 
the college, in securing that pledge, which was faithfully 
kept; so that the plat of ground given by Mr. Tufts, and 
belonging to the institution, including one acre given by 
the late Joseph Manning, embraces more than a hundred 
acres. 

When Mr. Tufts said that he would put a light on Wal- 
nut Hill, no one comprehended the fact that lay hidden in 
the good man's words ; but when the time came that the 
leading minds in the Universalist Church resolved to 
found a college in the interests of their denomination, and 
were seeking for the most desirable location that could be 
found for it, then the words of the noble man seemed 
prophetic, and he gave the hill on which to plant the first 



3IO HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

collegiate "light-house " of the Church he honored, and to 
which he gave his support. 

Another well-known Universalist, a citizen of Medford, 
Mr. Timothy Cotting, gave to the college, at his decease, 
land on South Street, near the institution, embracing up- 
'wards of twenty acres. But the munificence of Mr. Tufts, 
;in his first gift, was a theme for praise in the whole 
'Church, then first awake to the importance of the work so 
•well begun ; and all applauded the act of the trustees, by 
•■which the institution was named " Tufts College " accord- 
ing to the condition of the donor. 

But we must go back in thought to consider the fact 
that the' college is the child of the Universalist Church, 
and a grand expression of its ideas and faith. Before 
this Church had been in existence, as a distinct and sepa- 
rate religious body, a full half-century, there were men in 
it who were persuaded that its future growth and power 
in the land demanded the establishment of at least one 
college of letters, thoroughly equipped and endowed ; and 
the acts of those men, that antedate the gifts, should have 
grateful recognition in what we are now writing of Tufts 
•College. 

One of the most influential of this class of men was 
Rev. Thomas J. Sawyer, now Dr. Sawyer, Dean of Tufts 
Divinity School. 

From the time when he entered upon his ministry in 
New York, he was at the front of that movement which 
intended the development of educational interests in the 
Universalist Church. He was for several years at the 
head of an institution of learning known as " Clinton 
Liberal Institute," at which many of the young men 
who at that period entered the Universalist ministry 
received theological as well as scientific and literary 
training. 

But the school was only an academic institution, not in- 
tended as a place for theological study ; and Dr. Sawyer 
appealed to the Universalist public in the columns of 
the religious press, and by a circular letter addressed to the 
clergy and influential laymen of the denomination, to 
spring to the work of founding and endowing an institu- 
tion of a higher class. In these efforts he was nobly 
seconded by others. 

In May, 1847, a mass-meeting was held in the city of 
New York, at which a committee of five was appointed to 



HISTORY OF MEDFDRD. 311 

place an agent in the field for the raising of funds, the 
subscriptions to be valid when the sum of one hundred 
thousand dollars should be pledged ; but when the general 
convention assembled in the same place the following Sep- 
tember, nothing had been done ; but at that convention, a 
prominent Medford clergyman came to the front ; and his 
agency in the college enterprise should be herein recog- 
nized. Rev. Hosea Ballon, 2d, D.D., preached a sermon 
before that convention, in which he urged the "duty of 
general culture," and the importance of having "at least 
one college placed on a permanent basis;" and his logic 
was so clear and sound that it carried conviction to the 
minds of many who had not seen the importance of the 
enterprise. On the following day another mass-meeting 
was held ; and after such a discussion as the importance 
of the subject demanded, it being found that a good de- 
gree of harmony of opinion prevailed among the older and 
younger clergy, it was again voted that one hundred thou- 
sand dollars was the minimum with which a college enter- 
prise could be safely launched. 

Six months elapsed before an agent was in the field : but 
the work was talked of, and brought before the people by 
the denominational press ; and at length the Rev. Otis A. 
Skinner (afterwards Dr. Skinner) was appointed to raise 
the proposed subscription. 

The sum was so large that many warm friends of the 
measure were disheartened, and really thought that it could 
not be pledged. But the right man had entered upon the 
work, and he would not listen to the word "failure" from 
any one. Though he was years in accomplishing the task 
assumed, he was able to announce in the summer of 185 i, 
that the full amount was promised. 

On the 1 6th and 17th of September in the year last 
named, the subscribers held a meeting in Boston, at which 
a board of trustees was designated, who subsequently took 
the necessary legal action which fixed the site of the col- 
lege, and determined its name. 

April 21, 1852, the Legislature granted a charter which 
conferred upon the institution power to give every kind 
of degree usually given by colleges, "except medical 
degrees;" but on the 2d of February, 1867, this restric- 
tion was removed, and since that time Tufts College has 
had legal rights and powers equal to any similar institution 
in the State. 



312 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

In July, 1852, Rev, Thomas J. Sawyer was elected presi- 
dent of the college. He declined to accept the office. In 
May, 1853, Rev. Hosea Ballon, 2d, was elected to the im- 
portant position, which he filled with honor to the institu- 
tion until the time of his death, which occurred in May, 
1861. 

In the July succeeding his election, Dr. Ballou had the 
satisfaction of laying the corner-stone of the main college 
hall ; the address being delivered by Rev. A. A. Miner. 
The event was one of great public interest; and it drew 
together a large concourse of spectators from Boston, 
Cambridge, and other surrounding towns. The president- 
elect was a ripe scholar, yet lacked the experience that 
comes of college life ; and he resolved to spend a year in 
visiting" the most prominent institutions of learning in this 
country and Europe, in preparing himself for the arduous 
and complicated duties of his new position. 

The responsibility of launching the new enterprise, of 
organizing the college, and establishing its curriculum, 
rested largely on him ; although he had the counsel and 
assistance of Mr. John P. Marshall, the present senior 
professor and dean of the college of letters. 

The college was regularly opened for the admission of 
students in August, 1855, although a few students resided 
there the previous year, and received instruction from the 
president and Professor Marshall. The success of the in- 
stitution was, at first, as marked and satisfactory as its 
friends had reason to expect it to be ; but the great 
anxiety attending the work of organization and develop- 
ment so affected the health of Dr. Ballou that he sank 
under its prostrating effects, and was cut down before the 
college could fully avail itself of the eminent abilities 
which he brought to the discharge of his duties, and before 
he could witness and rejoice in the unexampled material 
prosperity which has since that time been realized by the 
college which he did so much to create. 

In the spring of 1862, Rev. A. A. Miner, D.D., was 
elected to succeed Dr. Ballou, and held the office of 
president until the date of his resignation, February, 1875. 
His presidency marks a season of exceptional material 
development, during which a great increase of endowment 
and unrestricted gifts came to the college through his 
personal influence. 

Very soon after the college was established, Silvanus 







"^ 



rt/c *><4^ • 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 313 

Packard, a prosperous merchant, without children, an- 
nounced his intention of making Tufts College his child. 
He gave generously to it during his lifetime, and dying 
bequeathed to it nearly the whole of his property, amount- 
ing to about $300,000. 

Dr. William J. Walker was also a munificent benefactor, 
giving to the college upwards of $200,000. 

Another notable friend of Tufts College was Dr. Oliver 
Dean, who devoted the greater portion of his wealth to 
the founding of Dean Academy, one of whose functions 
was to be the fitting of young men for the college. He 
also showed still more distinctly his favor to the college 
by contributing in all $90,000 to its funds. 

But the college was especially fortunate in its infancy, 
and when it was practically without funds, in having for its 
treasurer Thomas A. Goddard, a wealthy merchant, and 
one of the grandest laymen that the Universalist Church 
has ever produced. 

When the college was almost destitute of funds to meet 
its current expenses, this man quietly paid the deficiency 
out of his own pocket, and kept it from debt. 

At the conclusion of the first half of the college year 
1874-75, Dr. Miner tendered his resignation of the presi- 
dency of the college. 

The Hon. Israel Washburn, jun., was chosen as his suc- 
cessor ; but he promptly declined the office. 

The trustees then determined to make a new departure, 
and place an alumnus of the college at its head. Accord- 
ingly, the present incumbent, Rev. Elmer H. Capen, a 
graduate of the class of i860, was elected to the vacant 
chair in March, 1875, and was inaugurated on the second 
day of June following. This new departure quickened 
the interest and secured the more active co-operation of 
ihe graduates of the college; and this, together with the 
ability and good judgment that the young president, Rev. 
Dr. Capen, brought to the discharge of his duties, secured 
to the college an improved curriculum and increased j^ros- 
perity. 

The faculty, as originally constituted, consisted of three 
professors beside the president ; and for many years the 
entire work of the college was performed by not more 
than five teachers. The gifts and benefactions of Dr. 
Walker, designed mainly for the promotion of mathematics 
and related branches of study, enabled the trustees to 



314 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

enlarge the facilities for instruction on the side of science. 
A professorship of civil engineering was created in 1867; 
and subsequently the subjects of natural history, physics, 
and chemistry were each assigned to a separate chair, and 
placed in charge of eminent specialists. Connected with 
the several scientific departments, are good working labo- 
ratories and museums, so that the facilities for scientific 
instruction are excelled by few colleges in this country. 

The only degree given in the beginning as a reward for 
residence and study in the college was that of bachelor of 
arts. But the presence of a large number of students who 
were not prepared to take that course of study in full led 
to the organization of two additional courses, one leading to 
the degree of civil engineer, and the other to the degree 
of bachelor of philosophy. 

There are now eleven full courses of electives open to 
students. From the middle of the junior year, a very 
large percentage of the student's work is in those lines 
which he chooses for himself. 

The modifications of discipline have been no less impor- 
tant, either in their character or results. Formerly in all 
the New-England colleges an elaborate system of rules, 
enforced by an oversight which often amounted to espi- 
onage, was thought to be necessary to good order and 
the proper moral development of young men. In the 
eyes of the students, the faculty of a college seemed to 
be little else than a grand court of inquisition for the trial 
and punishment of offences against discipline. In point 
of fact, a very large percentage of the time of college offi- 
cers was spent in that business. At Tufts all this has 
been changed. Formal rules relating to conduct have 
been abolished. Men are put entirely upon their honor, 
and are no longer watched. Since 1875, there has not 
been a single case of a student summoned before the fac- 
ulty, or a committee of the faculty, for discipline. Under 
this policy the gain in the orderly behavior, moral tone, 
and contentment of students, has been immense. 

The whole number of graduates is now over three hun- 
dred. Of this number, representatives may be found in 
the principal walks of almost every one of the learned 
professions. 




^^ 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 315 



THE DIVINITY SCHOOL. 

Silvaniis Packard, by will, directed that the trustees 
should establish and maintain, out of the rents and profits 
of his estate, one theological professorship. The Rev. 
Thomas J. Sawyer, D.D., whose efforts in connection with 
the establishment of the college have been previously 
described, was elected Packard professor of theology ; and 
the Divinity School, with Dr. Sawyer at its head, was 
organized and opened for the admission of students in 
1869. At first one professor was associated with Dr. Saw- 
yer, and very soon another was added to the faculty. The 
course of study, at the opening of the school, leading to 
the degree of bachelor of divinity, was three years. But 
so large a number of those applying for admission were 
found to be deficient in elementary training, that the 
course was lengthened to four years for all except college 
graduates. To carry out this programme, a fourth teacher 
•was found to be necessary. The faculty, as at present 
constituted, has continued since 1875. Upwards of fifty 
students, since the organization of the school, have taken 
the prescribed course in theology, and received the degree 
of bachelor of divinity. Of this number nearly one-half 
are in charge of important parishes in Massachusetts, and 
others in different parts of the country are occupying 
some of the most prominent and influential pulpits of the 
Universalist Church. 

EXTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 

When the present site of the college was selected, the 
hill was without trees, and almost repulsive in its naked- 
ness. The erection of the main college building and the 
first dormitory only served to heighten its wind-swept 
appearance. But other important buildings have been 
added ; walks and driveways have been laid out ; trees 
have been planted, and have attained, on the southerly 
slope, a thick and heavy growth, and are beginning to get 
ahold upon the northerly side; the reservoir of the Mys- 
tic Water Works is established upon the summit of the 
hill, and, in effect, forms a part of the college grounds : 
so that in the summer season, there is no more beautiful 
or attractive spot in the whole region about Boston than 
College Hill. 



3l6 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



THE GODDARD CHAPEL, 



Recently a very important feature has been added to its 
cluster of buildings by the erection of a stone chapel from 
funds provided by Mrs. Mary T. Goddard. The style of the 
edifice is Romanesque, with a genuine Lombardic tower. 
It is as graceful a piece of architecture as can be found 
in this part of the country, and is a worthy memorial of 
the lady, who, with her noble husband, has been so effi- 
cient a promoter of the origin and growth of the institution. 

THE GYMNASIUM. 

For many years there has been an urgent desire on the 
part of the students for a gymnasium. It was demanded 
as a stimulus and help to them in their athletic sports, 
and also as a means of recreation, and for the promotion 
of their health. Mrs. Goddard recognized this need of the 
students, and with characteristic generosity set about to 
supply it. Almost immediately on the completion of the 
chapel in 1883, she communicated to the trustees her pur- 
pose to build and furnish, at her own_ expense, a gymna- 
sium. Her proposition was accepted. The work was 
entered upon immediately, and the building was completed 
and thrown open to the students in the autumn of 1884. 

THE BARNUM MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 

Almost from the opening of the college, instruction in 
the diEerent subjects of natural history has been given 
by Professor Marshall, who has given himself diligently to 
the work of collecting specimens which would illustrate 
his work, A very important and valuable collection had 
been made in that way. But the college was without 
special funds which could be applied to this department. 
In the spring of 1883, the president suggested to the Hon. 
P. T. Barnum, the propriety of founding a natural-history 
museum, which should bear his name. The response of 
Mr, Barnum was almost instantaneous. As soon as he 
could learn from the president, the amount which would be 
needful for a suitable beginning to such an enterprise, lie 
made provision for the erection of a building, and a main- 
tenance fund. 

The present museum building i.s the central portion of 




^-£«£.i£^p^' 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 317 

what is ultimately intended to be a large and imposing 
structure. It contains laboratories, recitation-rooms, a 
o-rand vestibule in which there is a marble bust of the 
donor, and where the skin of the famous elephant Jumbo, 
and the skeleton of another elephant, are to be deposited. 
There is also a large exhibition-hall, fifty feet wide by 
seventy feet long, filled with cases which contain an ad- 
mirable collection of mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles, 
purchased by Mr. Barnum from Professor Henry A. Ward 
of Rochester, N.Y. Mr. Barnum's benefactions, up to the 
present time, amount to upwards of fifty-five thousand dol- 
lars. But he has other important gifts in contemplation, 

ITS EASY AND LIBERAL POLICY. 

The college has been distinguished for its liberal policy 
towards those young men who are obliged, on account of 
limited means, to struggle for their education. The charge 
for tuition is one hundred dollars a year. But there are 
more than thirty scholarships in the gift of the college. 
By means of these, the tuition may be cancelled for those 
who prove their worthiness by superior attainments. In 
addition to these, gratuities are given in cases of need ; 
so that the instruction is practically free to all men of 
promise and fidelity, whose circumstances require it. 

It is a gratifying fact, that some of the most distin- 
guished and successful of its graduates are from among 
those who have enjoyed its pecuniary favors, and who 
would have found a liberal education impossible without 
them. 

THE LIBRARY. 

The library has had, on the whole, a very satisfactory 
growth. Dr. Ballou's extraordinary love for books led 
him to bestow particular attention upon its formation. It 
would be interesting to get an insight into some of the 
methods which he used in securing contributions to what 
in his view constituted the core of an institution of learn- 
ing; but many Medford people who remember the persist- 
ency of Dr. Ballou's methods, also his unruffled good 
nature, will clearly see how it was that in a few short years 
he brought together from so many different sources so 
large a collection of books, and laid the foundations of a 
great library. The interest awakened by him has never 
flagged. There are now in the possession of the college 



3l8 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

more than twenty thousand bound volumes, many of them 
rare and of great value, and about nine thousand pam- 
phlets, 

We have given large space to this history of Tufts 
College, because it is a Medford institution, and because 
its prosperity is so largely the result of the labors of a 
Medford man, whose like we shall not see for many years 
to come. Rev. Hosea Ballou, 2d, D.D., was a great and 
good man, an excellent citizen, a faithful pastor, a pure- 
souled Christian ; and, as the first president of Tufts 
College, an honor to the institution and to the town of 
Medford. 




GODDARD CHAPEL. TUFTS COLLEGE. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 319 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CHARITIES. 

Few towns in the old Commonwealth can boast of citi- 
zens who have shown such regard for the poor, such cheer- 
fulness in giving money to aid them, and such wisdom in 
their bequests and donations, as are shown in the acts of 
Medford's benefactors. Most of them have passed away ; 
but their works follow them, and their names cannot 
perish. 

The first that deserve special notice are Thomas 
Secomb and his widow Rebecca. Their gifts were re- 
garded of so much importance, that a special town-meeting 
was called for the purpose of taking action upon the in- 
terests for which they provided ; and it becomes eminently 
proper that all the provisions of the town, in relation 
thereto, should be stated in this history. 

The gifts of these worthy persons were the beginning 
of a wisely executed charity, that has already accomplished 
great good, and which has blessings greater still for un- 
born generations. The following items from the town 
records will give the reader a correct idea of the Secomb 
Charities, and will especially show the great good-heart- 
edness of Mrs. Secomb, who did not withhold from the 
poor of the town the benefit of her husband's bequest in 
their behalf until her own decease, as she might have 
done legally, but gave it at once, on the death of her hus- 
band, together with a good round sum from her own estate. 

The town officers having been legally apprised of the 
gifts hereinafter named, the proceedings in the matter were 
as follows : — 

Middlesex ss. 

To Mr. Richard Creese, Constable of the Town of Medford : 
Greeting. 

You are hereby required in his Majestvs Name, Forthwith to warn 
the Freeholders & other inhabitants of the Town of Medford Afore- 



320 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

said, qualifyed as the Law Directs to Assemble at the Meeting House, 
in sd Town, on Monday tlie Tenth Instant, at Two of the Clock in the 
Afternoon Then & there, to consider of a Donation, left by the 
Late Mr Thomas Sccomb deceasd and of his Widow Miss Rebecca 
Secomb now Living, and Pass what Notes they may think proper re- 
lating to the same. 

Hereof Fail not & make return of this warrant with your doings 
thereon at or before said Meeting. 

Dated at Medford January ye third day Anno Domi 1774. 
By order of the Select Men. 

Richard Hall, Town Clerk. 

At A Town Meeting Legally Conven'd, this iD'h of January 1774, 
Mr. Benjamin Hall Chosen Moderator for sd Meeting. 

I'oted 'Y\\?i\. Messrs. Benjamin Hall, Willis Hall, Joshua Simonds, 
Thomas Patten and Ebenezer Brooks Jun"" being Select Men & 
overseers of the Poor of sd Town give a Receipt to Miss Rebecca 
Secomb for the Sum of One Hundred Pounds Sterling (hereafter 
mentioned) upon the Reception of the Same and Engage in Behalf of 
this Town that y^ interest of the same shall be appropriated to the 
use of the Poor of the Town of Medford Aforsd and the sd Select 
Men or overseers or their Successors in sd office shall render an Acco 
Annually to the sd Town how thev have disposed of the same. 

Voted That the Select Men wait upon Mrs. Rebecca Secomb and 
Acquaint her of the gratefull Sense this Town have of the Generous 
Benefaction of her late Husband Mr. Thomas Secomb Deceased & 
also of her generous Donation in Addition thereto, and Return her the 
Thanks of the Town for the same. 

Voted Also that the Instrument now read be Recorded upon the 
Public Records of the Town, and the original be Returned to the sd 
Mrs. Secomb. 

To all People to whom these Presents shall come ; Rebeckah 
Secomb of Medford, in the County of Middlesex and Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, Widow, sends Greeting, — 

Know ye, that whereas my late Husband Thomas Secomb Deceased 
expressed himself in his last Will & Testament as follows viz — In 
case there shall Remain at my said Wife's Decease unconsumed and 
undisposed of by her, so much of my Estate Real and personall, ex- 
clusive of my Dwelling House and Land Adjoining and appurtenances 
thereto belonging as aforementioned as will Amount to the Sum of 
One Hundrecl Thirty three Pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence, 
then in such Case and not otherwise, I give to the Selectmen for the 
time being for the Town of Medford aforesaid, the Sum of one Hun- 
dred Pounds to be Paid by my Executor in one year next after my said 
Wife's Decease to be by the Selectmen or overseers of the same 
Town let out on Lawfull Interest on good Security, and the Interest 
thereof to be annually Applied to the use of the Poor of said Town 
of Medford in Money only and that forever, and for no other use 
whatsoever. And being willing and desirous that the foregoing 
Clause or Paragraph should be fulfilled, and that the Poor of the 
Town of Medford aforesaid should sooner reap the Benefitt and Ad- 
vantage thereof : And as I sincerelv hope from a charitable disposi- 
tion; In Addition thereto — Do hereby Give and Grant to Benjamin 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 32 1 

Hall, Distiller, Willis Hall, Distiller, Joshua Symonds, yeoman, 
Thomas Patten, Brickmaker, and Ebenezer Brooks, Jun"", yeoman, 
all of Medford & County aforesaid, & Selectmen & Overseers of the 
Poor of said Town of Medford and to their Successors in said Trust, 
the sum of Thirty Three Pounds Six Shillings & Eight Pence Law- 
full Money Amounting in the whole to the Sum of One Hundred 
Pounds Sterhng to be & Remain A Fund or Stock and to be let out 
upon Interest on the best Security that can be obtained by the Afore- 
said Selectmen or overseers of tiie said Town of Medford and their 
Successors as such ; And the interest thereof to be annually Applyed 
by them to the use of the Poor of the said Town of Medford, and 
to be Ahenated upon no Pretence or Purpose whatever. To Have 
and to Hold the Aforesaid Sum of One Hundred Pounds Sterling: to 
the said Benjamin Hall, Willis Hall, Joshua Symonds, Thomas Pat- 
ten, and Ebenezer Brooks, Jun"" Selectmen and Overseers of the 
Poor of the Town of Medford Aforesaid and to their Successors in 
said Trust, to and for tlie Use of the Poor of said Town of Medford 
as aforementioned and for no other; And in Case the Selectmen afore- 
said, or their Successors as Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor of the 
said Town of Medford, or the said Town by any of their Votes or Re- 
solves should pervert the Design or Intention hereof, by Appropriat- 
ing, Using, or Improving the aforesaid One Hundred Pounds Ster- 
ling, or any Part of it or the Interest Thereof to any other use or 
purpose, than for the Benefitt and advantage of the Poor of the 
Town of Medford as aforesaid. Then I hereby make null and void 
this Gift; and give my Heirs at Law, full power to Recall and Re- 
cover said One Hundred Pounds Sterling of said Town of Medford 
by A Suit at Law; In Witness whereof and upon the conditions 
aforementioned. I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Third 
Day of January Anno Domini 1774 and in the fourteenth year of his 
Majesty's Reign. 

(Signed) [seal] 

Rebeccah Secomb. 

Signed, Sealed & Delivered in Presence of Ebenezer Hall, Timothy 
NewhalL 

Medford, January ye 14, 1774. 

Received of Mrs. Rebeckah Secomb the sum of One Hundred 
Thirty Three Pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence, Lawful Monev, 
or One Hundred Pounds Sterling Money of Great Britain, for the Use 
& Purposes within mentioned and for no other; And we do for our- 
selves as Select Men & Overseers of the Poor of said Town of 
Medford, and for our Successors in said Trust engage that the same 
shall be Appropriated and Applied to that Purpose (the Use of the 
Poor of said Town of Medford) and not Alienated upon any Account 
whatever. 

Signed by the Selectmen. 

The records of the town show that by the charities of 
Mr. and Mrs. Secomb, the foundation was laid for a perma- 
nent and growing fund in the interest of the worthy and 
needy poor of Medford. 

Additions to the Secomb Fund. — In the report of the 
selectmen of the town, made in February, 1865, they ac- 



322 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

knowledge the receipt of an additional sum of five hundred 
dollars, to be added to the Secomb Fund ; said sum having 
been provided for in the will of Dr. Daniel Swan. 

In February, 1867, the same town officers reported that 
Timothy Getting, Esq., had given the town in 1864 and 
1865, thirty dollars to be given to the needy poor, and that 
at a more recent date he had contributed one thousand 
dollars, the increase or interest of which was to be distrib- 
uted among the worthy and needy poor of the town. 

A still larger addition to the Secomb Fund was made 
by the late Dudley Hall, as will be seen by the following 
from his last will and testament. 

"Nov. 3, 1868. To the inhabitants of the town of Medford afore- 
said, I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand and three hundred 
dollars, to have and to hold the same to them in their corporate capa- 
city and their assigns in trust, however, for the following uses and 
purposes : namely, to account for, pay, divide, and distribute the 
annual interest and income of said fund to and among the same per- 
sons to whom the income of the Secomb Legacy is now paid and 
distributed ; it being mv desire that this trust fund be added to said 
Secomb Fund now amounting, I believe, to seven hundred dollars, to 
constitute a part of said fund, and that it be managed and controlled 
by said town in the same manner as the said Secomb Fund is man- 
aged and controlled, and that the annual interest and income thereof 
be paid and distributed in the same manner." 

And Mr. Hall made another gift to the town for the 
benefit of the poor, 

"To the inhabitants of the said town of Medford, I give and be- 
queath the sum of five thousand dollars, to have and to hold the same 
to them in their corporate capacitv and their assigns forever, in trust, 
however, for the following uses and purposes : namely, in trust to divide 
and pay the annual income and interest thereof, to and for the use 
and benefit of the deserving poor and needy church-members of the 
several Protestant religious societies now existing and organized in 
said Medford. The said annual interest and income shall be divided 
among the said several religious societies in proportion to the number 
of church-members belonging to the said respective societies, some 
time during and in the month of November in each year. The number 
of said church-members in said several and respective societies must 
be certified to the town treasurer by the minister and deacons, or 
parish or other standing committees of the said several and respective 
societies, on or before the first day of November in each year, in order 
to entitle the poor church-members of the respective societies afore- 
said to the benefit of this fund ; and the said treasurer shall then divide 
the said interest and income among such societies as have so certi- 
fied to him as aforesaid, in proportion to the number of their respec- 
tive church-members, and shall pav the amount to which eacii society 
is so entitled to the minister and deacons, or parish or other standing 
committee of the said respective societies, to be by them divided and 





xb. c 2- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 323 

distributed at their discretion, to and among the poor and needy 
church-members in and belonging to their respective churches ac- 
cording to the true meaning and intent of this bequest." 

Another fund for the benefit of poor females born in^ 
Medford was created by Miss Pamelia Simonds, amounting, 
to one thousand and three hundred dollars. In the month 
of March, 1872, this provision of Miss Simonds's will was. 
copied into the town records by vote of the town. 

SIMONDS FUND. 

Extract from the will of Miss Pamelia Simonds, Arti- 
cle 20 : — 

"All the rest of my property, real, personal and mixed, which may 
remain unappropriated at the time of my death, I hereby give and 
bequeath to the overseers of the poor, and their successors in office, 
who shall have been chosen in Medford, and who, ex officio., shall 
hold my said property above mentioned, in trust, distributing annually 
among the indigent women of the town the interest only of said prop- 
erty. I strictly confine this gift to females born in Medford." 

The town at different times voted to accept the trust 
imposed upon it by the aforesaid charities, and formally 
expressed thanks to the generous donors of the several 
sums herein named. 

Ajtothcr Gift to the Toiun in the interest of the town 
schools was made in 1868 by Mr. George F. Tufts, by 
which he conveyed to the town a parcel of land at the in- 
tersection of Main and Medford Streets, whereon to erect 
a wooden schoolhouse with slated roof, at a cost of five- 
thousand dollars ; which liberal gift was duly accepted on. 
the terms proposed by the giver. 

BEQUEST IN FAVOR OF THE TOWN LIBRARY, 

March 9, 1874. Voted, That the following devise and 
bequest made by the late Miss Lucy Osgood be accepted. 

"I give and bequeath to the town of Medford a large wood-lot 
comprising forty acres, more or less, which 1 own in the north-east- 
ern part of said town ; to be used and applied to the increase and 
maintenance of the town-library, by trustees duly appointed." 

PHYSICIANS. 

The first physicians appear in Medford as early as 1720, 
Dr. Oliver Noyes and Dr. Ebenezer Nutting. Dr. Noyes 
died in 1721, and Dr. Nutting does not again appear in 



324 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

the records. Dr. John Bishop appears in the tax-bills of 
.1726-27. Dr. Simon Tufts was born in Medford, Jan, 31, 
1700, and died here, Jan. 31, 1747. He graduated at Har- 
"\'ard College in 1724, and is called " Doctor" in the town 
records, May 24, 1724. He is called the "first physician 
of Medford." 

Dr. John Brooks was eminent as a physician in the town 
and county, and is spoken of elsewhere in this history. 
Dr. Luther Stearns practised medicine in town for a few 
years with much success. Dr. Daniel Swan was highly 
esteemed by the townspeople. A notice of him is given 
in another place. 

Dr. Samuel Gregg located in Medford in 1826, and prac- 
tised here about fourteen years on the allopathic system, 
but afterwards became an homoeopathist, and had a very 
successful practice. Dr. Milton Fuller practised to the 
satisfaction of the people. 

Dr. J. C. Dorr was a very successful physician here for 
a quarter of a century. No one as a family physician, if 
we except Dr. Swan, was ever more beloved than he. Dr. 
Dorr was an army surgeon for two years in the war of 
the Rebellion. 

Our present physicians are : Charles V. Bemis, James 
Hedenberg, Pearl Martin, E. L. Warren, George W. Mills, 
James E. Cleaves, Walter L. Hall, John L. Coffin, Joseph 
E. Clark, and E. W. Jones, all of whom enjoy the confi- 
dence and respect of the people. 

LAWYERS. 

The number of lawyers practising in Medford has not 
been large. Office business has been the chief source of 
emolument. Hon. Timothy Bigelow came from Groton, 
to reside in Medford, in 1808. He stood eminent at the 
bar, and had a large practice. He died May, 1821, aged 
fifty-four. 

Abner Bartlett, Esq., was one of the most noted and 
respected lawyers of the town. He was born in Plym- 
outh, and graduated at Harvard College in 1799- He 
preferred not to appear as an advocate before a jury. As 
a representative, legal adviser, town-officer, and justice of 
the peace, he was as faithful to duty as the needle to the 
pole. He died Sept. 3, 1850, aged seventy-four. 

Jonathan Porter, Esq, born in Medford, devoted the 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



:)-'3 



energies of a strong mind and a ripe scholarship to the 
science of law. 

George D. Porter, Esq., also a native of Medford, and a 
graduate of Harvard College, entered upon the legal pro- 
fession with much promise, but failing in health, practised 
but a short time before his death. 

Charles Russell, Esq., practised here for several years, 
and filled many important offices in town. He died in 1878. 

John O. A. Griffin, Esq., was a resident of Medford for 
several years. He stood eminent at the bar, and was hon- 
ored in the community. 

Sanford B. Perry, Esq., practised here from 1845 to 
1856, and then moved to Chicago. 

Lawyers now in practice, residing here, are : Thomas S. 
Harlow, Daniel A. Gleason, Benjamin F. Hayes, Baxter 
E. Perry, Fred H. Kidder, Charles F. Paige, Rosewell B. 
Lawrence, William B. Lawrence, William P. Martin, M. 
H. Swett, Christopher G. Plunkett, George J. Tufts, J. H. 
Wolff, O. P. Shannon, Howard D. Nash, D. Edwin Con- 
ery, and William E. Boynton. 

AUTHORS. 

Medford has been prolific in authors. We give below 
some of their names, but cannot record their various pro- 
ductions for want of space. Suffice it to say, that some of 
them have written works of great merit, which have been 
widely circulated and appreciated. Among these writers 
we may name Mrs. Lydia Maria Child, noticed elsewhere 
in these pages ; Rev. John Pierpont, Rev. Charles Brooks, 
Mrs. Jane Turell, and Samuel Hall. We give the sub- 
joined list : Rev. Ebenezer Turell, Mrs. Jane Turell, Rev, 
David Osgood, Samuel Hall, Esq., Rev. John Pierpont, 
Rev. Andrew Bigelow, Rev. Convers Francis, Mrs. Lydia 
M. Child, Rev. Hosea Ballou, D.D., Rev. Charles Brooks, 
Rev. William H. Furness, Rev. Edward B. Hall, Rev. 
Caleb Stetson, Rev. Nathaniel Hall, Miss Louisa J. Cut- 
ter, Judge James G. Swan, Mrs. Susannah Rawson, Mrs. 
Maria Gowen Brooks, Nathaniel H. Bishop, R. P. Hallo- 
well. 

PUBLIC CHARACTERS. 

Medford has furnished its share of public characters, 
who have done it honor ; and they include a governor, 
lieutenant-governor, councillors, senators, representatives, 



326 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



a tax-commissioner, a State treasurer, a president of the 
Senate, clergymen, physicians, lawyers, authors, two pro- 
fessors of colleges, a mayor of Boston, a mayor of Lynn, 
a United-States marshal, a paymaster in the army, mili- 
tary commanders in the army and navy of the United 
States, a commissioner to the Paris Universal Exposition, 
and a judge. 

We may be allowed to signalize our ladies who have 
been called to public stations. Three have represented 
the country as wives of ministers at the Court of St. 
James ; and another has written and published more per- 
haps than any other woman in the United States. 




Maria Gowen Brooks. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 327 



CHAPTER XV. 

FIRE-DEPARTMENT. 

The first action of the town in relation to fires, of 
which we have any knowledge, was in 1760. On the 12th 
of May, in that year, the town voted that two fire-hooks 
be provided for the use of the town. 

Three years later the town voted to raise £,26. ly. ^d. 
for procuring a fire-engine, if the rest of the sum neces- 
sary could be obtained by subscription ; and Hon. Isaac 
Royal, Stephen Hall, Esq., and Capt. Seth Blodget were 
made a committee to get the subscriptions, and purchase 
the machine. 

Their efforts were successful ; and an engine, called the 
** Grasshopper," was purchased, and stationed near the 
market, where it remained until 1799, when it was re- 
moved to the " West End," another having been purchased 
at that time to take its place at the Centre. For many 
years these two machines were deemed sufficient for all 
the purposes to which they were devoted. 

March 11, 1765 : For the first time, nine fire-wards and 
twelve engine-men were appointed by vote of the town. 
The Medford Amicable Fire Society was organized in 
1785, and had for its motto, " Amicis 7wbisqtie." So far as 
is now known, it was the first firemen's organization ever 
formed in the town. They solemnly bound themselves to 
be governed by the "regulations" which they adopted. 
These regulations embraced all the common provisions for 
choice of officers and transaction of business which such 
an association would require. The third regulation pro- 
vided that each member should keep constantly in good 
order, hanging up in some convenient place in his dwelling- 
house, two leather buckets, of convenient size, in which 
should be two bags and one screw-key, — each bag meas- 
uring one yard and three-quarters in length, and three- 
quarters of a yard in breadth. If the bags or buckets of 



328 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

any member should be found to be out of place at any quar- 
terly inspection, he was to pay a fine of twenty-five cents 
for each article so out of place. It was provided that the 
number of its members should not exceed twenty-four ; 
that they were to meet three times a year, for the transac- 
tion of business, and once a year to dine together. 

They were to have their buckets and bags marked dis- 
tinctly with the owner's name ; and an important regula- 
tion of the society was set forth in these words : — 

"At the alarm of fire, each member shall immediately repair, with 
his bags, buckets, etc., to the place where it happens; and, if the 
house or property of any member be in danger, every member shall 
resort thither, and use his utmost endeavors, under the direction of 
the member in danger, if present, — otherwise according to his own 
judgment, — to secure all his goods and effects, under penalty of what 
the society may determine. And if there shall not be any property 
of a member in danger, then each member, at the request of any other 
person in immediate danger, will consider himself obliged to assist 
such person, in the same manner as though such person belonged to 
the society. 

" Candidates must be proposed three months before election; and 
three votes in the negative prevent membership." 

This society was not subject to any town provision or 
regulation, but was strictly a volunteer organization, the 
members of which were, first of all, to assist each other. 

For good and sufficient excuses, the fines imposed for 
absence from roll-call and from active duty could be remit- 
ted ; but we see, by records of the society still existing, 
how real and strong the ground of excuse had to be. On 
one occasion, in 1794, the society voted that Gen. Brooks 
might be excused from duty, when he was actually out of 
town, engaged in his profession as a physician. 

Everything found in the old records of this society is 
evidence of the zeal and devotion of its members to the 
excellent work in which they were engaged. They paid 
all the expenses of carrying forward their enterprise. They 
asked the town for no remuneration, and even the annual 
dinner was provided at their own expense. 

The gradually improved facilities for the extinguish- 
ment of fires, provided by the town, relieved the Society 
from its responsibilities ; and in 1849 i^ ^^'^^'^ i'^s last annual 
meeting, and practically disbanded. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 329 



THE MEDFORD HOOK-AND-LADDER COMPANY. 

In the year 1829, the Legislature of the Commonwealth 
having passed an Act authorizing the town of Medford to 
appoint a company of hook-and-laddermen, at a meeting 
of the selectmen, held July 6 of that year, a committee 
was appointed to form such a company. 

The action of the committee was approved by the town 
authorities, and the constitution and by-laws recommended 
by the committee were adopted by the company, with the 
approval of the selectmen. 

The Hook-and-Ladder Company has now been in exist- 
ence as an organization for more than fifty-six years, and 
throughout that period has rendered faithful and efficient 
service at fires. It has always been a popular branch of 
the fire-department ; and, from first to last, we find the 
names of some of the most respectable citizens of the 
town enrolled in its membership. 

OTHER FIRE-COMPANIES, STEAM FIRE-ENGINES, ETC. 

March 3, 1828: "Voted that the selectmen be a com- 
mittee to examine and consider the necessity of procuring 
a new engine for the west part of the town." 

1828: The first record of the organization of a new 
engine company was made on this date. 1831, the town 
voted to give a supper each year to the firemen ; but this 
did not embrace the Hook-and-Ladder Company. Nov. 
14, 1836: Voted to purchase a new engine. 

1839: The town voted to petition the Legislature for 
an act of incorporation for their fire-department. This 
petition suggested to the Legislature the importance of 
considering the whole subject; and accordingly they re- 
constructed the laws, and on the 9th of April the pres- 
ent law was passed. The next day they authorized the 
town of Medford to organize a fire-department, according 
to their petition, and the act was as follows : — 

"an act to establish a fire-department in the town of 

MEDFORD. 

'■'■Be it enacted by tJie Senate and House of Representatives, in 
General Cojcrt assembled, and by t/ie authority of the same, as fol- 
lows : — 

"The selectmen of the town of Medford are hereby authorized to 
establish a lire-department in said town, in the manner, and according 



00^ 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



to the provisions, prescribed in an Act to regulate fire-departments, 
passed on the 9th of April, 1839; and the said fire-department when 
so established, and the several memljers thereof, and all the officers 
and companies appointed by them, and the said town of iMedford, and 
the inhabitants thereof, shall be subject to all the duties and liabilities, 
and be entitled to all the privileges and exemptions, specified in said 
Act, so far as the same relate to them respectively." 

The rtiles and regulations were drawn up, and the ninth 
section provided that the act establishing the fire-depart- 
ment should not take effect until it was "accepted and 
approved by the inhabitants of the town." It was approved 
by the town, and the present fire-department organized in 
due form. 

March 7, 1842 : The chief engineer made his first annual 
report. 

Nov. 6, 1850: The town voted that large cisterns should 
be sunk in the ground in various parts of the town, and 
be filled with water, to be used only in case of fire. 

Every provision of hose, fire-hooks, ladders, etc., which 
the department required, was made by the town. 

In 1840 was published a pamphlet, entitled "State Laws 
and Town Ordinances respecting the Fire-Department of 
the Town of Medford." It contained the Act of the Gen- 
eral Court of April 9, 1839; also the Act of April 17, 1837, 
"to prevent bonfires, and false alarms of fire;" also "ex- 
tracts from the Revised Statutes, chapter 18;" also "an 
ordinance for preventing and extinguishing fires, and estab- 
lishing a fire-department in the town of Medford, passed 
by the board of engineers, April 25, 1840;" also further 
"extracts from the Revised Statutes, chapter 58." "Ap- 
proved by the town, April 29, 1840." 

The ordinance passed by the board of engineers had the 
approval of every well-disposed citizen in Medford. A brief 
abstract is as follows: — 

Fines for carrying fire openly in the streets, from two dollars to 
twenty dollars; for allowing to remain any defective chimney, deposit 
of ashes, etc., five dollars to twenty dollars ; chimney set on fire at 
imjiroper times, two dollars. Engineers shall remove coml)ustible 
materials where dangerously placed. The engineei^s shall choose a 
chief engineer and officers, control the engines, and make all due 
regulations; engineers shall repair to the place of fire immediately, 
and take all the steps necessary to extinguish the fire and secure 
property. There shall be hook, ladder, hose, sail, and engine car- 
riages. The chief engineer shall have full command, and make an 
annual report to the town. No one shall be a member of the fire- 
department under eighteen years of age ; nor under twent}-one, unless 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



331 



bv request of parents. First Tuesday of May, each company shall 
choose officers. Duties of several officers specified. Engines, after 
a fire, shall be cleaned ; and, once in two months, the companies ex- 
ercised. Duties of tiremen, to protect life and save property. Badges 
to be worn. Disobedient members dismissed. Duties of citizens 
who are present at a fire. Officers of a company may be discharged. 
When buildings, not on firej shall be demolished. The ordinance 
closes with the following twenty-first section: " The members of the 
several companies shall not assemble in the houses intrusted to their 
care, except for the purpose of taking the engine or apparatus on the 




New Engine-house. 



alarm of fire, or for drill and exercise, and of returning the same to 
the house, and taking the necessary care of said apparatus after its 
return." 

Any citizen of Medford, whose memory goes back thirty 
years, will call to mind the volunteer fire-associations of 
that time. They were composed largely of the active 
young men of the town, some forty or fifty being usually 
attached to each engine. The members were willing to 
serve without pay, and were held together by a lively 
esprit dc corps, and a thorough love for the service. There 



332 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

were three engine-companies in the town, — the " Gov. 
Brooks," the " Gen. Jackson," and the "Washington," — 
these being the names given to the excellent hand-engines 
belonging to the town. A strong but good-natured rivalry 
existed between the companies : each felt bound to main- 
tain the superiority of its own " machine," and every fire 
witnessed a friendly contest between them. It was a 
happy day for any company when it had succeeded in 
^' ivashiiig'' the tub of its rival. 

In 1862 the town purchased a steam fire-engine. The 
volunteer associations were disbanded, the old machines 
sold, and the fire-department was put on a more compact 
and effective footing. The members have ever since been 
paid, including the hose-companies, whose apparatus is 
kept in buildings conveniently located in different parts of 
the town. 

In 1880 the town erected a large engine-house at the 
corner of Main and South Streets. The building is of 
brick, substantially built, and of handsome architectural 
proportions. The basement affords convenient accommo- 
dations for the steam fire-engine, the hook-and-ladder car- 
riage, and a hose-carriage, with the draught-horses used 
in the service. The tower is utilized for the storage of 
hose, and the upper rooms of the building are appropri- 
ated to the use of the fire-companies. 

The following table shows the names of all those who 
have been engineers in the Medford Fire-Department, and 
the years in which they served : — 

Benjamin R. Teel, 1852-53. George L. Barr, 1865-71, 1873. 

Henry Taylor, 1852. Alvah N. Cotton, 1866-68,1871-72. 

Anthony Waterman, 1852-54. Moses C. Vinal, 1866-67, 1869. 

William H. Flo\d, 1852. Luther F. Brooks, 1867-73. 

Judah Loring, 1855-56. Daniel W. Lawrence, 1868. 

Albert H. Butters, 1855. Gordon Hayden, 1870-72. 

John J. Beaty, 1855. P. R. Litchfield, 1870, 1872-73. 

John Brown, 1855-61. Thomas O. Hill, 1874-77, 1883. 

Joseph P. Hall, 1855-61, 1863-65. H. H. D. Gushing, 1873-74. 

Charles R. Drew, 1856-58. D. K. Richardson, 1873-S2, 1883. 

William B. Thomas, 1857-62, William J. Floyd, 1S74-76. 

1884-85. Albert A. Samson, 1874-80, 1883. 

David Simpson, 1857. J. H. Whitney, 1875, 1882. 

Alexander S. Symmes, 1858-66. James P. Samson, 1876-81. 

Almon Black, 1859, 1861-65, 1869. George W. Means, 1881-82, 1884- 
BeiTJamin H. Samson, 1862-73. 85. 

F. E. Foster, 1863-64. L. H. Lovering, 1884-85. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 333 



BOARD OF HEALTH. 

Medford elected a Board of Health, for the first time, 
in 1872. Up to that time the selectmen performed the 
duties that now devolve on those officers. Under the laws 
of the Commonwealth, they have the entire charge of 
the sanitary interests of the town. Their names, with the 
years they have served, are as follows : — 

Pearl Martin, from 1872, every B. R. Teel, 1S79-82. 

year until 1 886, inclusive. George M. Nichols, 1879, i88i. 

John H. Hooper, 1872-75, 1S77. C. E. Sanborn, 1S78. 

Charles Russell, 1872. Charles Cummings, 1877-80. 

George W. W. Saville, 1873-75, Dr. J. L. Coffin, r882-86. 

1877. Dr. James E. Cleaves, 1884-86. 

WATER-SUPPLY. 

The question of water-supply was agitated in the town 
of Medford as early as 1866, but no action of a decisive 
character was taken until three years later ; yet the feeling 
in this direction was so strong, that it resulted in secur- 
ing an Act of the Legislature in 1867, incorporating the 
Spot Pond Water Company, made up of three gentlemen 
from each of the three towns of Maiden, Melrose, and 
Medford, with the end in view of saving the pond for the 
use in those towns, if within any reasonable time they 
should desire, as municipalities, to utilize its waters ; the 
right being reserved to the three towns, in the Act of In- 
corporation, to purchase the franchise and corporate prop- 
erty. The members of the corporation representing the 
town of Medford were James O. Curtis, Charles V. Bemis, 
and Benjamin F. Hayes. 

In March, 1869, the town appointed E. Boynton, jun., 
Elizur Wright, R. P. Hallowell, F. E. Foster, and Henry 
L. Stearns, as a committee on the matter of a water- 
supply for the town, from the Mystic Water-works, In 
September of the same year, they made the following 
report: — 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 

That, while the article under which we were appointed contem- 
plated the introduction of water from the Mystic Wor]<s, they have 
taken the liberty to investigate also the feasibility, and comparative 
cost, of supplying the town from Spot Pond, in conjunction witli Mai- 
den and iMelrose. The committee, through its chairman, waited upon 
the chairman of the Mystic Water-works, and learned of him that 



334 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

contracts had been made with Chelsea, Somerville, and Boston, based 
upon the following agreement, with slight alterations : viz., The 
towns and cities supplied are to lay and maintain all the pipes, stop- 
gates, meters, hydrants, and every thing connected with tlie distribu- 
tion of the water, and guarantee the City of Charlestown, free from 
any expenses for repairs, for three years, paying twenty-eight dollars 
for each three hundred and fifty inhabitants, as compensation for such 
number of hydrants as they may see fit to introduce. 

Water-rates are to be charged the same as now fixed in Charles- 
town, with the privilege of raising them above Charlestown rates in 
certain contingencies; Charlestown to collect the water-rents, and to 
pay to these towns and cities fifteen per cent on amounts less than 
$20,000, and from $20,000 to $30,000 twenty per cent, less the amount 
of charge for hydrants and other incidental expenses. At the last 
annual town-meeting, it was voted to accept the Act to authorize the 
town of iMedford to procure a supply of water; which Act simply au- 
thorized Charlestown to supply Medford with water, upon such terms 
as might be agreed upon between said city and town, and therefore 
conferred no special privileges upon the town. Hence, in negotiating 
with Charlestown, we should be placed on the same footing as the 
other purchasing towns and cities; and the chairman of the [Charles- 
town] Water Board stated, that, if any arrangement were made, it would 
conform in general terms to the contract made with Somerville. The 
cost of laying the pipes would, of course, be the same, whether we took 
the water from Charlestown or Spot Pond, inasmuch as the quantity 
and size of the pipe would be the same in either case. In reference 
to taking the water from Spot Pond, the following facts should be 
stated : — 

The pond, when full, covers 296 acres, and has a water-shed of 
about 1,100 acres; the level is 143.53 feet above Medford marsh, or 
high tide. 

The average daily supply of water for 217 days was, in 1838, 
1,800,000 gallons; the minimum, 1,600.000 gallons; and the maximum, 
2,900,000 gallons. At present the right to take the water is vested in 
the " Spot Pond Water Company," composed of three persons from 
each of the towns of Maiden, Medford, and Melrose, incorporated in 
1867; the Act being found in chap. 200 of the Acts and Resolves 
of that year. In this Act, sect. 8 provides "that the towns of Mel- 
rose, Maiden, and Medford, or any two of them in case the remain- 
ing town declines to participate in said purchase, may at any time with- 
in fifteen years from the time this Act takes effect, purchase the fran- 
chise of said corporation, and all its corporate property, by paying for 
all expenditures, and ten per cent interest." Under this Act, it is 
understood that no expenditure has been made, and therefore nothing 
will have to be paid, by the towns. Maiden has already voted to pur- 
chase the franchise, and Melrose will undoubtedly concur; so that it 
becomes necessary that Medford take action also in concurrence, in 
order to reserve the rights she now has in the Act above-named. 

From Mr. Norman, an eminent hydraulic engineer and contract- 
or, we have the following estimates of cost of pipes, hydrants, and 
cut-offs, laid for a distance of eight miles through our streets, but not 
including cost of rock excavation: viz., 4,000 feet 12-inch pipe, 5,000 
feet lo-inch, 3.000 feet 8-inch, 15,000 feet 6-inch, 20,000 feet 4-inch, all 
to be of cement, with sheet-iron basis, at not exceeding $65,000. In 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



:)J5 



addition to this, the town would have to pay its fair proportion for an 
enlarged main pipe from the outlet to our line near Maiden, which 
would be about ^6,000, and also our equitable proportion of any dam- 
ao"es to property, whether of mill-owners or others. 

From these statements it would appear, — 

1st, That if the town should vote to take water from Charlestown, 
we should be obliged to expend from $75,000 to $100,000, and receive 
scarcely any thing, as the fifteen per cent on our water-rents would but 
little more than pay for the use of hydrants. 

2d, That if water is taken from Spot Pond, the cost will not be 
greatly above that of taking it from Charlestown, and the town will 
receive all the water-rents. 

3d, That if the town should vote to purchase the franchise of the 
Spot-Pond Corporation, it does not oblige us to proceed at once to 
introduce the water; but, after the main-pipes are laid to Maiden, we 
should be expected to pay our equitable proportion of their increased 
size. 

4th, That there is danger that, unless the town takes some action 
in reference to this matter at once, we may lose the privilege of 
obtaining it from either Spot Pond or Charlestown, at some future 
time, when the necessities of the town would require it. 

5th, The expense to the town of introducing water would not be 
less than $75,000, and might reach $100,000, j^rovided we should lay 
nine or ten miles of pipe. 

In conclusion, your Committee would recommend, — 

1st, That a committee of seven be appointed to make careful 
examination in reference to the wants of the town in regard to water, 
and obtain definite propositions from responsible contractors as to the 
cost of introducing it, to be submitted to the town at the town meet- 
ing in November next. 

2d, That the town unite with the towns of Maiden and Melrose, or 
either of them, in purchasing the franchise of the Spot-Pond Water 
Company, under the provisions of the eighth section of chap. 208 of 
the Acts' of 1867. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

For the Committee, 
(Signed) E. BoYNTON, JuN., Chairman. 

At this same meeting, Messrs. D. A. Gleason, B. F. 
Hayes, and D. W, Wilcox were appointed a Board of 
Water Commissioners, and they were authorized to pur- 
chase the franchise of the Spot-Pond Water Company, in 
connection with Maiden and Melrose or either of them. 
They were also instructed "to contract for the construc- 
tion of all works necessary for the introduction of a supply 
of pure water from Spot Pond into Medford, and for con- 
dticting the same throughout such streets as in their 
judgment may be expedient, or as they may be hereafter 
directed by the town. In January, 1870, the Commission- 
ers made a partial report to the town, stating that they 
had purchased the franchise of the Water Company, at a 



336 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

total expense of $741, Medford's share being $247; and 
that it was the opinion of the majority of the Board that 
an independent route, by way of Forest Street, was for the 
best interests of the town. 

Messrs. Shedd & Sawyer, civil engineers, were employed 
to make a general survey ; and they made an extended 
report to the town at that time. In April of the same 
year, Mr. Wilcox resigned from the Board, and Mr. James 
O. Curtis was elected for the balance of the term. On 
May 24, 1870, a contract was made between B. F. Hayes, 
J. O. Curtis, and D. A. Gleason, in behalf of the town, 
and George H. Norman. 

About eighteen miles of pipe were laid under the 
original contract. In the spring of that year it was voted, 
"that the town issue, and hereby authorizes and directs 
the issue, of its notes, scrip, or certificates of debt, in form 
required by law, to an amount not exceeding one hundred 
and twenty-five thousand dollars, payable twenty years 
from the date of issue, and bearing interest at the rate 
of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually." 

The water was first let on to the pipes for the use of the 
town in the fall of 1870, and was supplied by way of Mai- 
den, through the Salem-street main. This gave a supply 
to only a portion of the town ; but, in the spring of 1871, 
the Forest-street main was finished, and the whole town 
was supplied with water through our independent main, 
direct from the pond. 

New mains have been laid from year to year, until, in 
February, 1884, there were thirty-four miles and eight 
hundred and ninety-one feet of mains. Through these 
water is supplied to one hundred and. fifty-eight hydrants, 
twelve hundred and forty-four houses, forty-one stores, 
twenty-two manufactories, one hundred and forty-nine 
stables, six churches, eleven school-houses, three engine- 
houses, and four drinking-fountains. 

The total amount of water-bonds issued is $300,000, — 
$250,000 of which are due in 1890, and $50,000 in 1 891. 
The cost of the works, to the present time, has been as 
follows: For construction, $300,755.48; damages and 
suits, $33,171.25; and cost of maintaining the works, 
$54,675.44. 

The amount of water-rates received in 1873 was 
$10359; iri 1883, it was $19,579.73; and the total receipts 
have been $181,504.13. From service-pipes, the receipts 
have been $21,847.50. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 337 

In 1878 a sinking-fund was started by the town, towards 
the payment of the water-debt ; and in February, i886,' 
there was on hand, for that purpose, $59,097.44. 

The present board of water-commissioners consists of 
Messrs. D. A. Gleason, F. E. Foster, and W. B. Thomas. 
Mr. R. W. Govv, the present superintendent, has been 
connected with the works since 1871. 

BURYING-GROUNDS. 

The places used by the first settlers of Medford for the 
burial of the dead are not positively known. Whether from 
unwillingness to follow England's example, in providing 
expensive and well-secured graveyards, or from their in- 
ability to do so, we cannot say ; but the fact is clear, that 
such provisions for the dead were not made. The oldest 
gravestones in the present graveyard, near Gravelly Bridge, 
were brought from England, and are remarkable for their 
width, thickness, and weight. The oldest bears the date 
of 1691. 

March 20, 1705: "Put to vote, whether the selectmen shall dis- 
course Mr. Dudley Wade, referring to the proposals made this meet- 
ing by Stephen Willis, jun., in said Wade's behalf, respecting the 
burying-place in Medford, and make return thereof to the town at 
the next town-meeting. Voted in the affirmative." 

It does not appear what this proposition was, or what 
action the town had upon it. Probably it was a proposal 
to sell the town some land for a place of burial ; and we 
presume it was accepted, because, May 15, 171 7, we find 
the following record : — 

" Put to vote, whether the town will choose a committee, to join with 
the selectmen, to view some land offered by Mr. Aaron Cleavland and 
John Willis, for the enlargement of the burying-place near Mistick 
Bridge ; and bring in a report to the town of the same, at the next 
town-meeting, both of the price of said land, and the convenience of 
the same for the use aforesaid." 

This passed in the af^rmative ; and the selectmen, Capt. 
Tufts, Deacon Willis, Deacon Whitmore, Ensign Francis, 
Capt. Brooks, and Ensign Hall, were appointed the com- 
mittee to plan the enlargement proposed. The committee 
reported June 10 of the next month, when the town passed 
the following vote : — 

"That the town will give Mr. Aaron Cleavland and John Willis, for 
a small parcel of land, for an addition to the burying-place, lying be- 



338 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

twixt Mistick River and Gravelly Bridge, after the rate of thirty-two 
pounds per acre." 

The portion they bought cost six pounds. 

May 12, 1718: "Put to vote, whether the hurying-place, some time 
•past bought of Mr. Aaron Cleavland, be continued in said Cleavland's 
hands, as to the herbage, until the town give furtiier order; and, when 
'the town see cause to fence it, it shall be fenced at the town's proper 
-cost; and whether that, forthwith, a board fence be erected at the 
ifront of the land, with a gate and lock. Voted in the affirmative." 

This vote would lead us to infer that the enclosure was 
ill cared for ; and the need of new fences is learned from 
the vote of Nov. 26, 1733, which was as follows: "Voted 
to have the front of the burying-place fenced in." At the 
same meeting, they directed " that the fence should be 
made of good cedar posts, white-pine boards, with handsome 
double gates, colored red." We apprehend that extraor- 
dinary care was not fashionable. One might infer that 
the "front" only was secured by a fence. From that day 
to the beginning of the present century, it w^as not unusual 
to let these precious, and we may add sacred, spots be 
exposed to the visits of vagrant animals. 

May 12, 1785: "Voted that no cattle be permitted to 
graze in the burying-ground." 

The "Old Burying Ground," as it was called, being near 
the most populous part of Medford, was better defended 
by walls than was common in many towns ; yet we re- 
member the wall on its east side, as low, broken, and 
insufficient. 

March 5, 1739 : It is, for the first time, proposed to build 
tombs ; and the north side of the graveyard is designated 
as the most proper place. None were built until many 
years later. 

The town passed the following vote, May 11, 1786: 
"Voted to give liberty to any person to build a tomb in 
the burying-ground." This custom of burying the dead 
in tombs grew so fast and strong that almost every family 
had a tomb, or part of one. This prevented the erection 
of gravestones, and thereby deprived posterity of all the 
knowledge derived from these authentic records. It was 
the custom, in the earlier times, for a family to choose the 
spot in the burying-ground where they would gather their 
dead ; and for others to invade this spot was considered 
an outrage on social rights and Christian feelings. In the 
old burying-ground, there are many remains of this ar- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 339 

rangement ; and we trust that no sacrilegious hand will 
now be laid on these sacred relics. In the south-west cor- 
ner of that ground, the slaves are buried ; but no monu- 
mental stones were raised. Are there as many gravestones 
now standing within the old burying-ground as were there 
fifty years ago t We think not. Where are they .'' Can 
the mouths of the tombs answer } 

There were six tombs built in 1767 by private gentle- 
men. Benjamin Floyd was the builder. They are those 
nearest the front gate, on its western side, and are under 
the sidewalk of the street. The bricks of which they are 
built were made in the yard west of Rock Hill. The 
common price of a tomb was then one hundred and two 
dollars. 

Though many new tombs had been built, and some little 
additional space secured in the old burying-ground, still 
there was need of further accommodations for burial ; and 
the town therefore voted. May 11, 1812, to request the se- 
lectmen to consider what further provisions could be made. 
This led to the appointment of a committee in May, 1813. 
A new burying-place seemed to be necessary, and the 
committee so reported. No definite action was had until 
May, 1 8 16, when another committee reported, that the 
land which the town had purchased in Cross Street, near 
Mr. Turner's ship-yard, for the position of an alms-house, 
had better be used as a burying-ground. The town ac- 
ceded ; and then ordered that the land be laid out in lots, 
that a proper fence be built around it, and that trees be 
planted in such number and order as to make the enclosure 
appear as such a place should. 

March 7, 1853 : Voted to remove the pound on Cross 
Street, and extend the burial-ground to the line of said 
street, and build thereon a suitable iron fence, with stone 
basement. 

The next movement for another burying-ground was 
March 6, 1837, when the town passed the following: 
" Voted that the article relative to purchasing land for a 
burial-ground, in the easterly part of the town, be indefi- 
nitely postponed." 

For many years the eastern wall of the old burying- 
ground was broken and insufficient. The attention of the 
Hon. Peter C. Brooks was directed to the subject in 1846; 
the consequence was an offer of five hundred dollars from 
that gentleman to the town, for the purpose of building a 



340 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

granite wall along the whole eastern front of the ground. 
The town accepted the offer, and voted thanks, Nov. 8, 
1847. There was a strip of land, twenty feet or more, 
added here to the old limits ; and the new granite wall 
encloses it. This strip was laid out in lots, and sold at 
auction Aug. 3, 1848. 

The establishment of the cemetery of Mount Auburn 
had created in this neighborhood a strong preference for 
such burial-places ; and Medford resolved to have one. 
The following vote was passed, Nov. 13, 1848: "Voted 
that the subject-matter of the fifth article in the warrant, 
relative to procuring additional land for burial purposes, 
be referred to a committee of five, to examine locations, 
obtain prices, etc., and to report at the next March meet- 
ing." 

Nov. 12, 1849: The committee reported it expedient to 
buy ten and a half acres of land, at fifty dollars per acre, 
of Leonard Bucknam. The town concurred, and em- 
powered the committee to make the purchase. 

March 4, 1850: "Voted to choose a committee to lay 
out and otherwise improve said new burying-ground." Also 
voted to expend five hundred dollars accordingly. 

After further examination of this land, the committee 
recommended an abandonment of the above plan ; and, 
March 10, 185 i, the town voted to build an alms-house on 
said land. 

July 19, 1852: The subject came before the town ; and 
Messrs. George W. Porter, Robert L. Ells, Paul Curtis, 
John B. Hatch, and Sanford B. Perry were chosen a com- 
mittee "to purchase land for a cemetery." These gentle- 
men examined several spots, and finally recommended one 
owned by Mr. Edward Brooks, situated nearly opposite the 
head of Purchase Street, in West Medford, and contain- 
ing twelve acres. It had a varied surface of hill, valley, 
and plain ; was well covered with young oaks and beau- 
tiful forest-trees; its soil was dry, and not liable to injury 
from rain ; the absence of ledges made digging easy ; and 
its retired and accessible position rendered it peculiarly fit 
for such a sacred appropriation. The committee obtained 
the consent of the owner to sell, and the price was five 
thousand dollars. They recommended the jnirchase; and 
the town accepted and adopted their report, Aug. 16, 1852. 
Thus an extensive and beautiful cemetery was secured to 
future generations. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 341 

The committee declined further service ; and Messrs. 
Sanford B. Perry, Paul Curtis, Edmund T. Hastings, George 
T. Goodwin, and James R. Turner were chosen to attend 
■ to all further business connected with the subject. March 
7, 1853, the town instructed the committee to build a re- 
ceiving-tomb, to lay out roads and paths, to erect fences, 
and make such improvements as they saw fit. 

Oct. 13, 1853: The committee made their first report. 
They recommended that the cemetery be called Oak 
Grove Cemetery. Among the rules and regulations 
were the following : — 

"The cemetery shall be under the care of the selectmen, who shall 
appoint a superintendent. Any citizen, who may become the owner 
of a lot, must submit to the conditions. Fences appropriate to the 
place may be built to enclose lots. No lot can be used for any pur- 
pose except the burial of the dead. No tree shall be cut down with- 
out the consent of the Cemetery Committee. Any funeral monument 
or structure may be erected, except a tomb. Trees, shrubs, and flowers 
may be planted and cultivated. Any improper structure or offensive 
inscription shall be removed by the committee. No tomb shall be 
built within the cemetery, except by special vote of the town. No 
burials for hire. No disinterment, except by permission. 

"The town-clerk shall be clerk of the Cemetery Committee. All 
deeds shall be executed in behalf of the town. The lots shall be ap- 
praised, numbered, and recorded, and the right of choice sold at public 
auction. Lots may afterwards be sold by the selectmen. Duplicate 
keys of the gates and receiving-tomb shall be kept by the officers. No 
dead body shall remain in the receiving-tomb, during warm weather, 
more than twenty days. No grave for any person, over twelve years 
of age, shall be less than five feet deep. All burials in the free public 
lot shall be in the order directed by the committee. No body shall be 
disinterred without permission of the committee. No carriage shall 
be admitted within the grounds, unless by permission, or when accom- 
panied by the owner of a lot. No refreshments, smoking, unseemly 
noise, discharge of fire-arms, or disorderly conduct, allowed. \'ehicles 
admitted must be driven no faster than a walk. All writing upon or 
defacing of structures, all breaking of trees or gathering of flowers, 
forbidden. No individual shall be the proprietor of more than two 
lots. The town of Medford will forever keep in good repair the 
fence, gates, carriage-ways, and footpaths of the cemetery, and make 
a secure place of burial for the dead, and an attractive resort for the 
living." 

This brief abstract of the report of the committee shows 
the town anxious to make the most generous appropriations 
for this sacred and cherished object. 

March 6, 1854: The town accepted and adopted the re- 
port of the committee appointed to direct the preparation 
of the cemetery for use. The items of their bill of costs 



342 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

will sufficiently explain the very beginning of the noble 
work. They are as follows : — 

Paid for land $5,000.00 

" labor on streets 774-89 

" receiving-tomb 359- 10 

" stone wall and posts 715-63 

" sundries 280.98 

$7,130-60 

Due .Mr. Wadsworth, for plan, etc $275.00 

" Dennis and Roberts, for iron gates . . 60.00 

" N. A. Chandler, for work 45.00 

$380.00 

$7,510.60 

The place was solemnly consecrated by religious services, 
performed within the enclosure, Oct. 31, 1853; and then 
the lots were offered for sale at public auction. Thirty- 
one lots were sold on the first occasion for $634.50; and 
the highest price given for choice was $15, and the low- 
est $\. The highest price fixed upon the best lots was 
$20; and the lowest price for a lot, $5. 

February, 1855 : The whole number of lots sold was fifty- 
one, and their cost was $1,025. 

Several who bought commenced immediately the prepa- 
ration of their grounds, erected fences, and planted flowers, 
shrubs and evergreens. 

From this time constant improvements have been made 
on the grounds. Every year new lots have been sold, 
thus increasing the interest in the cemetery. The town 
has made liberal appropriations for beautifying and pro- 
tecting the place. Lots were taken so freely that the 
question as to enlarging the grounds arose; and in March, 
1873, the town passed the following vote: — 

"Voted that the Cemetery Committee be authorized to see Mr. 
Edward Brooks, and ascertain the price of the land lying south of the 
cemeter}-, and report at the next town meeting." 

This committee reported progress ; and on March 8, 1875, 
the following vote was passed : — 

"Voted that the proper committee be authorized to purchase the 
land of Mr. Edward Brooks, adjoining the cemetery, at a price not 
exceeding $1,000 per acre." 

The additional purchase consisted of nearly twenty-two 
acres, and the price paid was $21,724.47. 

Until 1880 the cemetery was under the control, first of 
the selectmen, then of a Cemetery Committee ; but in 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 343 

February, 1880, it was placed in the hands of five trustees. 
The present board of trustees consists of James Bean, B. 
C. Leonard, Japhet Sherman, Henry Burridge, and John 
P. Perry. 

THE GREAT TORNADO. 

Medford long bore a sad testimony to the effects of the 
terrible tornado of Aug. 22, 185 1. The tornado com- 
menced about 5 o'clock, p.m., in Wayland, passed through 
Waltham and Arlington, and entered Medford a few rods 
south of "Wear Bridge." From this point it moved west 
by south to east by north, and kept this line till it ceased 
in Chelsea. Such extensive destruction of property from 
such a cause had never before been witnessed in this 
State. At a meeting of citizens, Aug. 28, 1851, the fol- 
lowing votes were passed : — 

"\'oted that a committee of five be appointed to appraise damages. 

" Voted tliat Gorham Brooks, Charles Caldwell, Franklin Patch, 
Albert Smith, and Jeremiah Gilson, constitute the committee. 

"Voted that the committee be instructed to consider the circum- 
stances of the sufferers, and report cases (if any) where charity is 
deemed necessary. 

"Voted that the committee be authorized to communicate with 
similar committees from other towns, in relation to the publication of 
the results of their investigations. 

"Voted that Rev. Charles Brooks be a committee to collect and 
arrange the facts in reference to science." 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF APPRAISEMENT. 

The amount of individual losses, as estimated by the 
committee, is as follows : — 

Edward Brooks. — Barn $25 

Estate belonging to T. P. Smith and others. — Buildings, $300; 

fruit-trees, S600 ; carriages, $75 ; vegetables, $ro .... 985 

Charles Rollins. — Two dwelling-houses unfinished, which I\Ir. 
Rollins was building by contract, both entirely demolished, 
including, in one case, the cellar wall. One of these build- 
ings was on the propertv belonging to T. P.' Smith and others, 
$4,320; the other was for the Rev. Mr. Haskins, $1,450 . . 5,770 

House building by J. F. Edward, on property belonging to T. P. 

Smith and others 12 

Boston and Lowell Railroad Company. — Freight-car blown from 

track, and buildings injured 40 

J. M. Usher. — Buildings, $442 ; fruit-trees, $30 ; fruit ; orna- 
mental tree (horse-chestnut), $50 522 

L. B. Uslier. — Buildings, $50; fruit-trees and fruit, $5<S; orna- 
mental trees (elm in road, and horse-chestnut), $100 . . . 208 

Heirs of Leonard Bucknam. — Buildings and fences, $450 ; fruit- 
trees, $25 475 



344 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

J. M. Sanford. — Fence, $io; vegetables, $5 ; furniture and cloth- 
ing, #150; carriages, $75 240 

H. T. Nutter — Vegetables, $5 ; furniture and clothing, $400 . 405 

Joseph Wyatt. — Buildings, ;?25o ; fruit-trees, $150 ; fruit,$io . 410 
Town of Aledford. — Buildings (school and poorhouse fences, 

etc.), $410; ornamental trees, ;?5o; fruit-trees, $50 .... 510 
George E. Harrington. — Buildings, $30; fruit-trees, 1:50 ; fruit, 

$8 88 

J. Vreeland. — Fruit-trees, $150; fruit, $12 162 

A. L. Fitzgerald (house slightly damaged). 

Samuel Teel, jun. — Buildings, $800 ; fruit-trees, $200 ; fruit, 

vegetables, and hay, !?6i ; wagons, furniture, etc.. $120 . . . 1,181 

George Caldwell. — House, $25 ; fruit-trees, $20 45 

George F. Lane. — Buildings, $600 ; fruit-trees, $250; vegeta- 
bles, $16 866 

Thomas Huffmaster. — Buildings, $275; fruit-trees, $500; fruit 

and corn, $45 S20 

Wellington Russell. — Clothing and furniture 25 

E. T. Hastings. — Fences, $30; fruit-trees, $100; fruit, $20 . 150 

J. B. Hatch. — Fences, $5; fruit-trees, $75; fruit, $25 ... 105 

Nathaniel Tracy. — Fence 10 

John W. Hastings. — House and fence 25 

Rev. John Pierpont. — Buildings, $500; fruit-trees, $100 . . 600 
Heirs of Jonathan Brooks. — Buildings and fences, $677 ; fruit- 
trees, $500; ornamental trees, S200 ; fruit, vegetables, and 

ha}', $80 ; carriages and hay-rack, 1. 175 1,632 

Alfred Brooks. — Buildings, $350; fruit-trees, $100 .... 450 
Noah Johnson. — Buildings, $445 ; hay and grain in barn, $40; 

ox-wagon and farming-tools, $42 527 

James Wyman. — Fruit-trees 30 

Moses Pierce. — House 25 

John V. Fletcher. — House, $25 ; fruit-trees, $20 45 

Joseph Swan. — Fruit-trees 20 

P. C. Hall. — Fruit-trees, $920 ; ornamental trees, $50; fruit, $80 ; 1,050 

Jonathan Porter. — Fruit-trees, $75 ; fruit, $35 no 

William Roach. — Fruit-trees 25 

Dudley Hall. — Fruit-trees 25 

Samuel Kidder. — Buildings, $50 ; fruit-trees, $400 ; ornamental 

trees, f.50 5°° 

Thatcher R. Raymond. — Fruit-trees, $100; ornamental trees, 

$100; fences, $10 210 

John A. Page. — Fruit-trees, $150; ornamental trees, $50; fences, 

$50 .^ =50 

Russell. — Ornamental trees 15° 

Orchard (East of Andover Turnpike) 4° 

$18,768 

The loss of property in West Cambridge was $23,606; 
in Walt ham, $4,000. 

The other report of facts, in their relation to science, 
fills forty pages of a little pamphlet which was published 
Oct. 30, 1851, and which may be found among the papers 
of the Smithsonian Institute. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 345 

FIRES. 

For the first two hundred years of our settlement, there 
were very few fires, and those few were mostly in the 
woods. The Indians had been used to clearing their 
planting-fields by the summary process of burning ; and 
they occasionally lighted a fire without regard to bounds 
or proprietorship. 

Not more than one or two buildings were burned at the 
same time for many scores of years ; but during the last 
fifty years it has seemed as if former exemptions were to 
be cancelled by rapidly increasing alarms and widely 
extended conflagrations. Many worthy citizens have 
thus lost their barns at seasons when those barns were 
most full, and most needed. 

The greatest and most distressing conflagration that 
ever occurred in Medford was on the night of the 2ist 
of November, 1850. It destroyed every building on Main 
Street and its neighborhood which stood between the 
bridge and South Street. The number, including dwell- 
ing-houses, workshops, and barns, was thirty-six. It com- 
menced in the old tavern barn, at the north-wesf corner 
of the settlement, when the wind was blowing a gale from 
that quarter ; and it spread with such speed as to prevent 
all passage over the bridge from the north, where ten or 
fifteen engines were collected, waiting for the first oppor- 
tunity for duty. There was but one engine in town north 
of the bridge, and but one bridge across the Mystic River, 
If, instead of a large barn, the first building burned had 
been a dwelling-house, or if the wind had been at any 
other point, the terrible destruction might have been 
stayed ; but, as every circumstance favored the spread of 
the flames, their progress seemed like lightning, and they 
appeared to leap with frantic fury from one building to 
another, as a starving man rushes to devour the first food 
within his reach. Before two o'clock the whole district 
was in ashes. It must have gone farther, had not engines 
from towns south of us arrived, and a few engines from 
the north been ferried across the river in scows. Nine- 
teen engines were present, mostly from other towns ; and 
every fireman and citizen did his utmost. 

Next to the sufferings of those personally interested in 
the losses of the conflagration, were those of the neigh- 
bors and firemen who were stopped on the north side of 



346 HISTORY OF MED FORD, 

the bridge, and who saw no way of going to the relief 
of their friends but by rushing through sheets of fire. If 
there be acute agony on earth, it is in witnessing calamities 
and pains which we have the wish, but not the power, to 
relieve. 

The deprivations and exposures consequent upon such a 
catastrophe can better be imagined than described. Every 
heart and hand in Medford was ready to administer re- 
lief ; and all was done for the sufferers that an active sym- 
pathy could suggest. Before the first barn was consumed, 
couriers were sent to the neighboring towns ; and the fire- 
men in each one answered with promptitude, and arrived 
in season to arrest the devastation. The amount of in- 
surance on the buildings was in many cases small, and 
losses fell on those who could very ill afford them. $1,335 
were immediately raised by subscription in Medford, and 
distributed by a committee to the greatest sufferers among 
the poor. To the honor of the sufferers, be it said, they 
met the waste of their property, the derangement of their 
business, and the suspension of their comforts, with firm- 
ness and patience. Before the ruins had ceased to smoul- 
der, the sounds of shovel, hammer, and trowel announced 
the work of reconstruction ; and, before two years had 
passed, a new village, phoenix-like, had risen out of the 
ashes of the old. 

The committee of investigation chosen to estimate the 
losses examined each case ; and their report was $36,000, 
after all insurances were deducted. About half of the 
property was insured. 

POUNDS. 

In Medford, there were fewer " lands common " than in 
other towns. The making of fences was difficult at first, 
and the " pound " came early into use. It was placed so 
near a stream of water as to allow the cattle in it to drink. 
Where the first one in Medford was placed, we know not. 
The first record is as follows : — , 

" Feb. 25, 1684 : At a general meeting of the inhabitants, John Whit- 
more granted a piece of land for the use of the town, for the setting 
up of a pound ; wliich land lies on the south-east of John Whitmore's 
land, lying near John Bradshaw's house, and is bounded south on John 
Bradshaw, and east upon the country road. At the same meeting, the 
inhabitants agreed to set up a pound on the land aforesaid." 

April 26, 1684: "Thomas Willis was chosen to keep the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 347 

town's pound ; and said pound-keeper shall have, for pound- 
ing, twopence per head for horses and also neat cattle ; one 
penny for each hog ; and, for sheep, after the rate of six- 
pence per score." 

This answered all purposes until May 15, 1758, when the 
town voted to "build a new pound with stone." This was 
built accordingly, and placed on the west side of the " Wo- 
burn road," six or eight rods north of Jonathan Brooks's 
house, in West Medford, The walls of this pound were 
very high and strong, and bad boys thought they had a 
right to throw stones at the cattle there confined. 

March 6, 1809: Mr. Isaac Brooks and others petitioned 
the town to have the pound removed. This petition was 
granted thus : "Voted to have the pound removed to the 
town's land near Gravelly Bridge, so called ; and said pound 
to be built of wood or stone, at the discretion of the com- 
mittee." There the pound remained only for a short time, 
when it was removed to Cross Street. 

There were other pounds in town, and some of them 
remained until a recent date, and were in use. One was 
located in Back Street, afterwards named Union Street ; 
and still another, on the old Woburn road, on land of 
the late Jonathan Brooks. We have often seen cattle 
placed in pound for safe-keeping ; and sometimes, as we 
more than suspected, to gratify a feeling not altogether 
neighborly. 

There is now but one pound in town, and that is seldom 
used. As the population increased, more attention was 
given to the care of estates, and cattle were not allowed to 
run at lar^e as in former times. 



LOCAL DISEASES. 

That our Medford ancestors should have subjected them- 
selves to the attack of some new diseases, or rather of old 
diseases in modified forms, is most probable. An early 
historian says of this region, " Men and women keep their 
complexions, but lose their teeth. The falling-off of their 
hair is occasioned by the coldness of the climate." He 
enumerates the diseases prevalent here in 1688: "Colds, 
fever and ague, pleurisies, dropsy, palsy, sciatica, cancers, 
worms." Consumption is not mentioned. We apprehend 
that the liealth of our fathers was unusually good. There 
is scarcely mention of any epidemic. A new climate, poor 



348 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

food, scanty clothing, necessary exposure, hard work, un- 
skilful physicians, may, in some cases, have caused deso- 
lating disease to do its rapid work of death ; but, as a gen- 
eral fact, health prevailed through the first fifty years. 

1764: With reference to the prevalence of the small- 
pox in Medford, we find the following vote : " That a fence 
and gate be erected across the main country road, and a 
smokehouse also be erected near Medford great bridge, 
and another smokehouse at the West End, and guards be 
kept." 

In 1755, a smokehouse was opened for the purification 
of those persons who had been exposed to the contagion 
of smallpox. It stood on the west side of Main Street, 
about forty rods south of Colonel Royal's house. Vis- 
itors from Charlestovvn were unceremoniously stopped 
and smoked. 

1775 : During this and some following years, theje was 
fatal sickness in Medford from dysentery. Out of fifty-six 
deaths in 1775, twenty-three were children. In 1776, there 
were thirty-three deaths; in 1777, nineteen; in 1778, 
thirty-seven ; and in 1779, thirteen. No reason is given 
for these differences in numbers. Out of the thirty-seven 
deaths of 1778, eighteen were by dysentery, and twenty 
were children. Whooping-cough has, at certain times, 
been peculiarly destructive. Throat distemper, so called, 
is often named among prevalent causes of death. In 1795 
ten children and three adults died of it between the 20th 
of August and the ist of November. Apoplexy seems to 
have destroyed very few lives. During the first fifteen 
years of Dr. Osgood's ministry, only one case occurred. 

Oct. 15, 1778 : The town voted to procure a house for 
those patients who had the smallpox. No disease ap- 
peared to excite so quick and sharp an alarm as this. The 
early modes of treatment gave ample warrant for any fears. 
In 1792 the town voted that Mr. Josiah Symmes's house 
is the only one authorized as a hospital for inoculation. 

The town has been visited by no epidemics of special 
severity since the time of these early records, and the sta- 
tistics of mortality of the State show that Medford ranks 
as one of the healthiest towns of the Commonwealth. 
Under the supervision of our Board of Health, all cases 
of contagious disease are carefully isolated, and every pre- 
caution is taken to keep them within the narrowest limits. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 349 



CHAPTER XVI. 

CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS. 

We trust, that, for the honor of Medford, records under 
this head will not be found numerous. We must tell the 
whole truth, let honor or infamy be the consequence ; and 
we regret to learn that our plantation was so soon the 
scene of a mortal strife. In the Colony records, we thus 
read, Sept. 2'^, 1630: "A jury of fifteen were impanelled, 
concerning the death of Austen Bratcher " (Bradshaw), 
"Austen Bratcher, dying lately at Mr. Cradock's planta- 
tioft, was viewed before his burial by divers persons. The 
jury's verdict : We find that the strokes given by Walter 
Palmer were occasionally the means of the death of Aus- 
ten Bratcher; and so to be manslaughter." Palmer was 
bound over to be tried at Boston for this death ; and, on 
the 9th of November, the jury bring in a verdict of "Not 
guilty." 

At a court held at Watertown, March 8, 1631, "Ordered 
that Thomas Fox, servant of Mr. Cradock, shall be whipped 
for uttering malicious and scandalous speeches, whereby 
he sought to traduce the court, as if they had taken some 
bribe in the business concerning Walter Palmer." This 
Thomas Fox was fined four times, and seems to have been 
possessed by the very demon of mischief. 

June 14, 163 1 : "At this court, one Philip Radcliff, a 
servant of Mr. Cradock, being convict, ore teniis, of most 
foul, scandalous invectives against our churches and gov- 
ernment, was censured to be whipped, lose his ears, and 
be banished the plantation, — which was presently exe- 
cuted." This sentence, so worthy of Draco, convinces us 
that some of the early judges in the Colony were men who 
had baptized their passions with the name of holiness, and 
then felt that they had a right to murder humanity in the 
name of God. 

June 5, 1638 : "John Smyth, of Meadford, for swearing, 
being penitent, was set in the bilboes." 



350 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Oct. 4, 1638: "Henry Collins is fined five shillings for 
not appearing when he was called to serve upon the grand 
jury." 

Sept. 3, 1639: "Nicholas Davison (Mr. Cradock's agent), 
for swearing an oath, was ordered to pay one pound, which 
he consented unto." 

Nov. 14, 1644: The General Court order that all Baptists 
shall be banished, if they defend their doctrine. 

Nov. 4, 1646: The General Court decree that "the blas- 
phemer shall be put to death." 

May 26, 1647: Roman-Catholic priests and Jesuits are 
forbidden to enter this jurisdiction. They shall be ban- 
ished on their first visit ; and, on their second, they shall 
be put to death. 

" Edward Gould, for his miscarriage, is fined one pound." 

There was a singular persecution of the Baptists in the 
early times among us. They were not sufficiently numer- 
ous to be formed into an organized society ; and yet they 
were so skilful in defending their creed, and so blamefess 
in their daily walk, that they became very irritating to the 
covenant Puritans ; and some wished they should be 
cropped ! In April, 1667, a great dispute was held at 
Boston between them and the Calvinists. Who were the 
champions in this gladiatorial encounter, we do not know, 
nor where victory perched ; but we have proof of blind, 
unchristian persecution, which stands a blot on the page 
of history. At the "Ten Hills, in Mistick," lived a ser- 
vant of John Winthrop, jun., who professed the Baptist 
faith. Mary Gould, his wife, who was with him in his 
creed, writes to John Winthrop, jun., March 23, 1669, con- 
cerning her husband's imprisonment in Boston on account 
of his peculiar faith. Whether what was done at "Ten 
Hills" was approved at Medford, we do not know; but 
these facts tell volumes concerning the ideas, principles, 
and practices of some of the Puritan Pilgrims of New 
England. 

Indians convicted of crime, or taken prisoners in war, 
were sold by our fathers as slaves ! 

June -14, 1642: "If parents or masters neglect training 
up their children in learning, and labor, and other em- 
ployments which may be profitable to the Commonwealth, 
they shall be sufficiently punished by fines for the neglect 
thereof." 

Nov. 4, 1646: The General Court order: — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



351 



"If a man have a rebellious son, of sufficient age and understand- 
ino-, — viz., sixteen, — which will not obey the voice of his father or 
the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will 
not hearken unto them, then shall his father and mother, being his 
natural parents, lay hold on him, and bring him to the magistrates 
assembled in court, and testify unto them, by sufficient evidence, that 
this their son is stubborn and rebellious, and will not obey their voice 
and chastisement, but lives in sundry notorious crimes. Such a son 
shall be put to death." 

1672 : Our ancestors had the gag and ducking-stool for 
female scolds. Such persons were "to be gagged, or set 
in a ducking-stool, and dipped over head and ears three 
times, in some convenient place of fresh or salt water, as 
the court judge meet." 

"Down in the deep the stool descends: 
But here, at first, we miss our ends. 
She mounts again, and rages more 
Than ever vixen did before. 
So throwing water on the fire 
Will make it but burn up the higher. 
If so, my friend, pray let her take 
A second turn into the lake ; 
And, rather than your patience lose, 
Thrice and again repeat the dose." 

The stocks stood in the centre of a village. The offender 
had both hands and both feet entrapped between two 
boards ; sometimes only 
one foot and one hand. 

The zvhipping-post stood 
near the meeting-house, 
and was often used : even 
women suffered the indig- 
nity. 

Conspicuous in the 
meeting - house was the 
stool of repentance, on 
which moral culprits sat 
during divine service and 
on lecture-days. Some- 
times they wore a paper 
cap, on which was written their sin. Wearing a halter 
round the neck was another form of punishment. The 
pillory was often used, and the offender was saluted by 
the boys with rotten eggs. 

Military offenders were obliged to ride the zcooden horse, 
or sit in the bilboes. Branding on the forehead, the cage. 




Stocks and Pillory. 



352 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

and the gallows, were each resorted to, according to the 
degrees of crime. 

The Christian sentiments of the heart are outraged by 
the shameless exhibitions and cruelties sometimes wit- 
nessed on "lecture-day." What a transition, — from the 
altar of God to the public whipping-post, to see women 
whipped upon the bare back ! 

The custom of whipping did not cease in Medford till 
1 790 ! 

SLAVERY. 

Our fathers held slaves in Medford. They were treated, 
generally, much after the manner of children. Africans 
were brought to this colony, and sold among us, for the 
first time, Feb. 26, 1638. In 1637 Capt. William Pierce 
was employed to carry Pequot captives, and sell them in 
the West Indies ! On his return from Tortugas, "he 
brought home a cargo of cotton, tobacco, salt, and ne- 
groes'' \ Slavery was thus introduced as early as 1638; 
but, in 1645 the General Court passed this noble, this 
truly Christian, order: — 

"The General Court, conceiving themselves bound by the first 
opportunity to bear witness against the heinous and crying sin of 
man-stealing, as also to prescribe such timely redress for what is past, 
and such a law for the future, as may sufficiently deter all others be- 
longing to us to have to do in such vile and most odious courses, 
justly abhorred of all good and just men, do order, that the negro 
interpreter, with others unlawfully taken, be, by the first opportunity 
(at the charge of the country for the present), sent to his native coun- 
try of Guinea, and a letter with him of the indignation of the court 
thereabouts, and justice thereof, desiring our honored governor would 
please put this order into execution." 

Slaves took the name of their first master. May 29, 
1644: "John Gore is granted leave to set his servant, 
Thomas Reeves, free." 

Respecting taxes on black servants, we have the subse- 
quent items: Each of them, in 1694, was assessed twelve 
pence; from 1700 to 1719, as personal estate; 1727, each 
male fifteen pounds, and each female ten pounds ; from 
1731 to 1775, as personal property. In 1701, the inhabit- 
ants of Boston gave the following magnanimous direction : 
"The representatives are desired to promote the encour- 
aging the bringing of white servants, and to put a period 
to negroes being slaves." 

Colonel Royal (Dec. 7, 1737) petitions the General 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 353 

Court, that, having lately arrived from Antigua, he has 
with him several slaves for his own use, and not to sell,, 
and therefore prays that the duty on them be remitted. 
The duty was four pounds a head. This petition was laid 
on the table, and rests there yet. In 178 1 a final blow 
was given to slavery in Massachusetts ; and in this the 
inhabitants of Medford unanimously rejoiced. To show 
how anxious our fathers were to prevent all abuse of an 
existing custom, the town passed the following vote, Aug. 
4, 1718: "Voted that every inhabitant of this town (Med- 
ford) shall, when they buy any servant, male or female, be 
obliged to acquaint and inform the selectmen of said town, 
for their approbation." It was a settled law with our 
fathers, that " no man shall hire any slave for a servant 
for less time than one year, unless he be a settled house- 
keep." 

Men sold their labor for a certain number of years, or 
to pay the expenses of immigration ; and, in such cases,, 
were sometimes called slaves. Referring to such cases,, 
we find the following : " Ordered that no servant shall be 
set free, or have any lot, until be has served out the timei 
covenanted." 

April I, 1634, the General Court passed an order, "that 
if any boy (that hath been whipped for running away from 
his master) be taken in any other plantation, not having a 
note from his master to testify his business there, it shall 
be lawful for the constable of said plantation to whip him,, 
and send him home." One hundred years after this time^ 
our Medford ancestors found themselves willing to pass, 
the following : — 

Sept. 17, 1734: "Voted that all negro, Indian, and mulatto servants 
that are found abroad without leave, and not in their masters' busi- 
ness, shall be taken up and whipped, ten stripes on their naked body, 
by any freeholder of the town, and be carried to their respective mas- 
ters; and said master shall be obliged to pay the sum of is. 6d. in 
money to said person that shall so do"." 

This vote, we presume, must have been imported from 
Jamaica. Did our progenitors so learn Christ .-• 

1680: " There are as many (one hundred and twenty) 
Scots brought hither and sold for servants in time of the 
war with England, and most now married and living here, 
and about half so many Irish brought hither at several 
times as servants." 

Judge Sewall, of Massachusetts, June 22, 1716, says, 



354 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

'*' I essayed to prev^ent negroes and Indians being rated 
^with horses and cattle, but could not succeed." 

No cargoes of slaves were brought into Medford ; but 
Ihow many cargoes of Medford rum went to Africa and the 
West Indies, and were returned in slaves to Carolina or 
Rhode Island, we cannot say. The gentlemen of Medford 
have always disclaimed any participation in the slave- 
trade. 

The following extract from a letter, dated Boston, 14th 
January, 1759, may show what was done at that time. It 
is as follows : — 

"Captain William Ellery. Sir, — The 'Snow Caesar' is fully 
loaded and equipped for sea. My orders are to you, that you em- 
brace the first favorable opportunity of wind and weather, and proceed 
to the coast of Africa; touching first, if you think proper, at Senegal, 
where, if you find encouragement, you may part with such part of 
your cargo as you can sell to your liking, and then proceed down the 
coast to such ports or places as you judge best to dispose of your 
cargo to advantage, so as to purchase a cargo of two hundred slaves, 
with which you are to proceed to South Carolina, unless a peace 
should happen, or a good opportunity of coming off with a man-of- 
war, or some vessel of force, for the West Indies. In that case, I 
would recommend the Island of St. Christopher's being handy to St. 
Eustatia's, for the sale of your slaves. Buy no girls, and few women; 
but buy prime boys and young men. As you have had often the care 
of slaves, so I think it needless to say much upon that head in regard 
to keeping them well secured and a constant watch over them. 

"Your cargo is good, and well assorted. Your rum, I make no 
doubt, will hold out more than it was taken in for; having proved 
some to hold out more than the gauge. As you have guns and men, 
I doubt not you'll make a good use of them if required. Bring some 
of the slaves this way, if not too late. 

" I am, with wishing you health, success, and happiness, your 
assured friend and owner, ." 

One article of the outward cargo stands on the account 
thus : " Eighty-two barrels, si.x hogsheads, and six tierces 
of New-England rum ; thirty-three barrels best Jamaica 
spirits ; thirty-three barrels of Barbadoes rum ; twenty- 
five pair pistols ; two casks musket ball ; one chest of 
hand-arms ; twenty-five cutlasses." 

The rettirn cargo is recorded thus : " In the hole, on 
board of the * Snow C?esar,' one hundred and fifty-three 
adult slaves, and two children." 

The following is a fair specimen of the captain's run- 
ning-account, in his purchase of slaves, while on the coast 
of Africa, copied by us from the original manuscript : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



355 



Dr. 



The natives of Annamboe Per contra. 



Cr. 



1770. 
April 22 



To I hogshead of rum 

" rum .... 

" I hogshead rum 

" I hogshead rum 

" cash in gold 

" cash in gold 

" 2 doz. of snuff . 



gals. 

. no 
130 

. 105 
. 108 

5 oz. 2. 



2 02. 
I oz. 



April 22. By i 



May 



gals. 

woman-slave no 

130 
I OS 
io3 



I prime woman-slave 

I boy-slave, 4 ft. i in. . 

I boy-slave, 4 ft. 3 in. . 

I prime man-slave . . 

I old man for a Lingis- 



How will the above read in the capital of Liberia two 
hundred years hence .-' 

In 1754, there were in Medford twenty-seven male and 
seven female slaves, and fifteen free blacks ; total, forty- 
nine. In 1764, there were forty-nine free blacks. When 
the law freed all the slaves, many in Medford chose to 
remain with their masters ; and they were faithful unto 
death. 

LIST OF SLAVES, AND THEIR OWNERS' NAMES. 

Worcester owned by Rev. E. Turell. 

Pompey " " Dr. Simon Tufts. 

Rose " " Capt. Thomas Brooks. 

Pomp u u u u u 

Peter " " Capt. Francis Wliitmore. 

London " " Simon Bradshaw. 

Selby " " Deacon Benjamin Willis. 

Prince " " Benjamin Hall. 

Punch " " Widow Brooks. 

Flora " " Stephen Hall. 

Richard " " Hugh Floyd. 

Dinah " " Capt. Kent. 

Ctesar " "Mr. Brown. 

Scipio " " Mr. Pool. 

Peter « " Squire Hall. 

Nice " " " " 

Cuffee " " Stephen Greenleaf. 

Isaac " " Joseph Tufts. 

Aaron " " Henry Gardner. 

Chloe " " 

Negro girl » " Mr. Boylston. 

Negro woman " " Dr. Brooks. 

Joseph, Plato, Phebe, Peter, 

Abraham, Cooper, Stephy, 

George, Hagar, Mira, Nancy, 

Betsey « « Isaac Royal. 

We are indebted to a friend for the following : — 

" It may be interesting here to mention a circumstance illustrative 



356 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

of the general feeling of the town in those days with regard to slavery. 
In the spring of 1798 or 1799, a foreigner named Andriesse, origin- 
ally from Holland, who had served many years at the Cape of Good 
Hope and in liatavia as a commodore in the Dutch navy, moved into 
the town from Boston, where he had lost, it was said, by unlucky 
speculations and the tricks of swindlers, a large part of the property 
which he had brought to this country from the East Indies. His 
family consisted of a wife and four children, with from fifteen to 
twenty Malay slaves. He lived only a month or two after his arrival 
in the town ; and his widow, immediately after his decease, sent back 
to their own country the greater part of the Malays, retaining only 
three or four of them for domestic service. Among these was a 
youth named Caesar, who was master of the tailor's trade, and made 
all the clothes of the family, three of the children being boys. He 
worked not only for his mistress, but was permitted by her to do jobs 
in other families ; and, being quick and docile, he became a general 
favorite. But, in the summer of 1805, Mrs. Andriesse was induced to 
return to Batavia, having received the offer of a free passage for her- 
self and family in one of Mr. David Sears's vessels, and having ascer- 
tained, that, if she returnee^ her boys might be educated thei^e at the 
expense of the Dutch government, and she herself would be entitled 
to a pension. All her servants returned with her, except Caesar. He 
was sold to a son of old Capt. Ingraham, of this town, who resided 
at the South, and owned a plantation there. Whether his mistress 
thus disposed of him for her own advantage, or because he was un- 
wiUing to return to his own country, cannot now be ascertained. In 
process of time, four or five years afterwards, Mr. Ingraham came 
on from the South to visit his aged father, bringing with him his 
' boy ' Ciesar, who left behind a wife and two children. Caesar renewed 
acquaintance with his former friends, and expressed a decided prefer- 
ence for the freedom of the North over all the blessings which he 
had enjoyed at the South. They were not slow to inform him that he 
might be a free man if he chose ; and he accordingly attempted to 
escape from his master. But, not having laid his plan with sufficient 
skill, he was overtaken in the upper part of the town, on his way to 
Woburn, and closely buckled into a chaise by Mr. Ingraham, who in- 
tended to drive into Boston with him, and lodge him on board the 
vessel which was to convey both of them home. Cicsar, however, 
had a trusty friend in Mr. Nathan Wait, the blacksmith, who had 
promised in no extremity to desert him; and as the chaise reached 
Medford Bridge, upon the edge of which stood Mr. Wait's smithy, he 
roared so lustily that Mr. Wait sprang out of his shop, hot from the 
anvil, and, standing before the horse, sternly forbade the driver from 
carrying a free man into slavery. Being ordered to mind his own 
business, he indignantly shook his fist at Air. Ingraham, and retorted, 
that he would hear from him again in a manner less acceptable. A gen- 
eral commotion then ensued among Caesar's friends, and they included 
many of the most respectable citizens in the whole town. Apprehen- 
sions were entertained that he would be secreted, and that his pursu- 
ers might be subjected to a long, and perhaps fruitless, search. In 
those days, one daily coach maintained the chief intercourse between 
Boston and Medford. Accordingly, on the evening of this memora- 
ble day, Mr. Ingraham was one of the passengers who happened to 
be returning to Medford. His unguarded whisper to his next neigh- 




cJ^ , "-^O/T^O^ (ohuCoLt 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 357 

bor, ' I have him safe now on shipboard,' chanced to be overheard by 
some ladies, who speeded the intelligence to Cesar's friends. Their 
course then became clear. Mr. Wait instantly obtained from the 
Governor of the State the requisite authority and officers, proceeded 
to the vessel, and brought off Ctesar in triumph. Great pains were 
taken by Mr. Ingraham to ascertain the names of the eavesdropping 
ladies who had betrayed his counsel ; but Mr. Wyman, the long-ap- 
proved Medford stage-driver, was visited on the occasion by a con- 
venient shortness of memory, which wholly disqualified him from 
recollecting who were his female passengers that evening; 'women,' 
as he afterwards added when telling the story, 'never liking to be 
dragged into court.' Redress by law was vainly attempted by the 
master. The case was tried, first at Cambridge, in the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, and then by appeal, at Concord ; large numbers of wit- 
nesses being summoned from Medford. Csesar worked at his trade in 
Medford several years with great approbation, and afterwards removed 
to Woburn, where he married again, and was called Mr. Anderson. 
He died in middle age." 

It is believed that Medford was the first town in the 
United States that rescued a fugitive slave. Since that 
event occurred, the change in public sentiment has been 
wonderful. The Nathan Waits have multiplied on every 
hand. 

To the anti-slavery movement of the present century, 
Medford has made an honorable contribution. It has had 
its full share of intelligent, persevering, and Christian 
opposers of the slave system. Prominent among these 
we may proudly record the name of Mrs. Lydia Maria 
Child; "than whom," said "The North American Review," 
" few female writers, if any, have done more or better 
things for our literature in its lighter or graver depart- 
ments." She was born in Medford, Feb. 11, 1802, and 
was the daughter of Convers Francis, a baker well known 
in New England and elsewhere as a manufacturer of a 
celebrated sort of biscuit called "Medford crackers." In 
1824 Miss Francis published her first book, " Hobomok, 
an Indian Story." It was followed afterwards by "The 
Rebels, a Tale of the Revolution," and other works of 
interest. In October, 1828, she was married to Mr. David 
Lee Child, of Massachusetts. In the outset of the anti- 
slavery movement initiated by Mr. Garrison, Mrs. Child 
identified herself with it, and remained an advocate of it 
through her life. One of the first distinctive anti-slavery 
books was her "Appeal in Behalf of that Class of Ameri- 
cans called Africans," in which she advocated the imme- 
diate emancipation of the blacks, as the right of the 
slave, and the duty of the master. The book, though 



358 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

opposed and denounced in high quarters, was widely read, 
and converts were multiplied by its influence. Tliis work 
was followed up in subsequent years by various smaller 
publications of a similar character. In 1841 Mrs. Child 
removed to New York to take charge, as editor, of "The 
National Anti-Slavery Standard," in which work, aided' 
by her husband, she was eminently successful. She lived 
to see the abolition of slavery in our nation effectively 
brought about by the logic of events. 

Other anti-slavery workers in Medford were Rev. Caleb 
Stetson, a conscientious, out-spoken, and faithful reforma- 
tory prophet ; Rev. John Pierpont, one of the giants in 
the anti-slavery strife ; George L. Stearns and Rev. Dr. 
William H. Furness, equally devoted to the cause. The 
downfall of the slave system in this nation is now a mat- 
ter of history. These early agitators lived to see the end 
they had striven for attained. 

PAUPERISM. 

When a case of extreme want occurred among the early 
settlers, it was provided for by private charity. There 
seemed to be a settled resolve of the Pilgrims, that they 
would not have here the poverty and the alms-houses 
they had left behind them. In Medford this purpose was 
manifest as early as June 9, 1637, when we find the follow- 
ing vote concerning a resident here: "Whereas John Bin- 
field died, leaving two children undisposed of, the charge 
of the one is ordered to be defrayed by Mr. Cradock, he 
having the goods of the deceased, the other child being dis- 
posed of by the country." We see from this that the poor 
belonged to the whole colony, and "the country disposed 
of them." 

The vigilance of our forefathers may be seen in the 
following vote : — 

" March 4, 1685 : The selectmen shall be empowered to prevent 
any person from coming into the town that may be suspicious of 
burden or damage to said town." 

This vote of Medford looked at a case then existing. 
April I, 1685, the selectmen protest as follows : — 

" Whereas William Burges, of Cambridge, hath lately intruded 
himself, with his family, into tlie town of Meadford, contrary to law, 
without the approbation of the town or townsmen, and he having 
been warned to be gone, and yet continues in said town without 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 359 

liberty, we, as selectmen, do hereby, in behalf of said town, protest 
against him, said William Burges, and his family, as being any legal 
inhabitants of the town of Meadford." 

The first person who threw himself on the charity of 
Medford, and caused legislation in the town, was John 
Man, who seemed a standing irritant to the parsimonious, 
and a convenient whetstone to wits. 

" Seven cities now contend for Homer dead. 



Whether any thing of this sort happened to John Man, 
we do not know ; but we do know that Cambridge and 
Medford did "contend" stoutly that the "living" man 
did not belong to them. When the question of habitancy 
arose, the justice of the King's Court would cite the towns in- 
terested in the case, and require from them the fullest proofs 
in every particular ; and, when a town got rid of a pauper, 
it seemed to call forth a general thanksgiving. The final 
decision gave the pauper in this case to Medford ; and, in 
1709, the town passed a vote " to put him to board at Sam- 
uel Polly's, at three shillings a week." But their bene- 
ficiary must have something more than board ; therefore 
we soon find the town furnishing "one coat for John Man, 
£,\. ly. ; one pair of stockings, 4.?." That his clothes 
wore out, we have record-proof in the following item : 
"Oct. 27, 1713 : Voted a pair of leather breeches, a pair 
of shoes and stockings, to John Man." 

1718: Voted to defend the town against vagrants, and 
to prevent their coming to rest in it. Paupers coming 
upon the town were thought to be like angels' visits only 
in one respect, —they were "few and far between." An- 
other is introduced to our notice in the following record : 
April 25, 1728 : Voted to support the widow Willis as we 
have done, " she being more than ordinarily troublesome." 
Ten pounds were voted. 

Dec. 3, 1737 : "Voted that the town will not choose over- 
seers of the poor." For many succeeding years, Medford 
took the same care of its poor as did other towns. It was 
a common custom to board them in private families, at the 
lowest rates, allowing such families to get what work out 
of them they could. Accordingly, at the March meeting 
each year, the "poor were set up at auction," and went to 
the lowest bidder. In 1799 the town voted to pay for the 
schooling of all the poor children at a woman's school. 



36o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

They had always enjoyed the privileges of the public 
school, like other children. 

Thomas Seccomb, Esq., who died April 15, 1773, gave 
by his Will some money to the town of Medford, as is 
noticed elsewhere. The interest was to be distributed 
among the poor. 

It was common to imprison the poor debtor. July 16, 
1770, the town voted to give security to the high-sheriff, 
and thus release Nathaniel Francis from jail. 

When the town bought their first alms-house, the num- 
ber of paupers lessened, because there were some who 
would not submit to being connected with such a house, 
and some who would not associate with such a mixture. 
The pauper-tax., therefore, was smaller. When, in 181 3, 
the new brick house was built, and afterwards so admir- 
ably managed, the earnings of the inmates were enough 
to lessen the poor-tax nearly one-half. The cost that 
year was ^1,010.25 ; which is fifty per cent less, pro- 
portionally, than the expenses before an alms-house was 
used. This may help to explain a statement in the report 
of a committee on town-expenses in 181 5, when they say, 
"The revenue of the town has, fortunately, been more 
than sufficient to meet its expenditures." The males in 
the alms-house were put to mending our highways. The 
keeper of the house and the surveyor directed their labors; 
and it took them most of their time to accomplish the 
whole work. In 1830 they did three hundred and ninety- 
one days' labor on the public roads ; and the cost of each 
pauper's support then was seventy-eight and one-half cents 
per week. 

Since the erection of the present alms-house, in 1852, 
the town's poor thus provided for have not increased in 
number, but a considerable expenditure is made for outside 
relief. 

ALMS-HOUSES. 

The first mention in our Medford records of any alms- 
house is May 16, 1737, — more than a century after the 
incorporation of the town ; and then it is proposed to 
invite neighboring towns to unite in building a common 
workhouse. The inhabitants chose a committee to confer 
with the adjacent towns, and to induce them to join in 
"building a house for employing poor, indigent, and sloth- 
ful persons." This proposition was not accepted ; and 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 36 1 

Medford did nothing more about the matter till May 23, 
1774, when a committee was chosen to provide a poorhouse 
on account of the town exclusively. This was the definite 
movement that led to practical results, and it was the first 
in this particular direction. It shows that the number of 
paupers was small till this time. 

In 1790 the town purchased a large house at the West 
End, near where the Lowell Railroad-station now is, to- 
gether with a small lot of land, sufficient only for a vegeta- 
ble-garden. Here the poor and helpless were gathered and 
made comfortable. But after twenty years it was found 
insufficient ; and the constant perplexities to which the 
overseers of the poor were subjected induced the town to 
think of building a new and ample house of brick. On the 
4th of March, 181 1, the whole matter was committed to the 
five following gentlemen : Timothy Bigelow, John Brooks, 
Jonathan Brooks, Isaac Brooks, and Abner Bartlett. After 
several meetings and much investigation, they report that it 
is expedient for the town to build a large and commodious 
house of brick, on the spot occupied by the old one. This 
report was accepted ; and the same gentlemen were ap- 
pointed the building-committee, to proceed immediately in 
the work. 

This house answered its purpose well for forty years. 
In 1827, the town voted to purchase eight acres of land 
adjoining the almshouse lot, at one hundred dollars per 
acre. In 1828 the project of purchasing a farm, as some 
towns had done, on which to employ the poor as laborers, 
came up for discussion ; and so favorably did the inhab- 
itants view it, that they voted to purchase as soon as a 
proper one could be found. No purchase was made ; and 
in 1832 a committee is directed to sell the poorhouse, if 
they think it advisable. It is not done ; and in 1837 the 
town again called up the subject, and appointed a com- 
mittee to examine lands and close the bargain. But no 
farm was purchased. 

In 1849 the town bought a large lot of ten and a half 
acres in West Medford, on Purchase Street, for a ceme- 
tery. After the purchase, it was thought that the situa- 
tion was better for an alms-house than a cemetery ; and 
accordingly, March 10, 185 1, they voted to change the 
appropriation. 

April 8, 1852 : A committee was appointed to sell the 
old alms-house, and devise a plan for a new one. This 



362 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

committee consisted of the following gentlemen : Samuel 
Joyce, Elisha Stetson, Caleb Mills, John A, Page, and 
Franklin Patch. The committee performed their duty 
acceptably, and were directed to build according to the 
model ; and the consequence was the spacious and com- 
fortable house now occupied by the public poor of the 
town. 

Since the erection of the last-named structure, the 
town's poor have been kept at that place. In August, 
1883, a portion of the building was destroyed by fire, sup- 
posed to have been set by an insane inmate. By an agree- 
ment with the insurers it was rebuilt to the satisfaction 
of the town. The location, grounds, and buildings are 
specially adapted to such an institution. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 363 



CHAPTER XVII. 

TAXES. 

The first inhabitants of Medford, bringing with them 
the common usage of England with respect to poll and 
property taxation, adopted the rules which they had fol- 
lowed in their native country. The records of our Colonial 
General Courts, under Governor Endicott, before the arri- 
val of Governor Winthrop, are lost, and therefore the rates 
of taxation from 1628 to 1633 cannot be ascertained ; yet 
they may be presumed from the subsequent rates which 
were soon after established with respect to Church and 
State expenses. The first rule enacted by the Legislature 
was in 1646. This was twenty pence a poll, and one penny 
on a pound, for the State. Sterling was the currency till 
1652, when the "pine-tree" coin, called New-England cur- 
rency, was introduced. This new coin was six shillings and 
eightpence less than the English pound sterling, and was 
so made to keep it in the country. 

The earliest payments were made in money ; but after- 
wards the Province agreed to take beaver, grain, pease, 
cattle, fish, lumber, etc. This was called conntry pay, and 
also called specie : this last word retained its early meaning 
till within seventy or eighty years of our time. After the 
"Province bills of credit" were introduced, country pay 
for Province taxes ceased in 1694. 

As Charles I., by his charter of March 4, 1629, released 
the Pilgrims from "all taxes, subsidies, and customs, in 
New England," our fathers had no taxes but what were 
necessary in their own borders. 

To show how taxes were assessed at our earliest history, 
the following specimens may suffice. 

At the first Court of Assistants, under Winthrop, in 
Charlestown, Sept. 28, 1630, the following was passed : — 

''It is ordered that there shall be collected and levied by distress, 
out of the several plantations, for the maintenance of Mr. Patricke 



364 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

and Mr. Vnderhill, the sum of fifty pounds; viz., out of Charlton, 
seven pounds ; Boston, eleven pounds ; Dorchester, seven pounds ; 
Rocksbury, five pounds ; Watertown, eleven pounds ; Meadford, three 
pounds; Salem, three pounds ; Wessaguscus, two pounds ; Nastascett, 
one pound." 

This tax was paid for instructing the colonists in mili- 
tary tactics ; an art quite necessary for self-defence against 
unknown Indian tribes. On Nov. 30, 1630, the same court 
levied a tax of sixty pounds, to pay the two public preach- 
ers, Rev. George Phillips and Rev. John Wilson ; and the 
places and sums were as follows : " Boston, twenty pounds ; 
Charlton, ten pounds ; Rocksbury, six pounds ; Meadford, 
three pounds ; Winnett-semett, one pound." 

Feb. 3, 1632, the same court levied a tax of sixty pounds, 
to make a palisade for the defence of Newton, that town 
having been chosen as the seat of government. To this 
tax, twelve towns contributed ; and Medford paid three 
pounds. 

On March 4, 1633, another levy was made, to pay mili- 
tary teachers ; and here Medford again paid three pounds. 
Thus our town seems to have taken its place with con- 
tiguous plantations in bearing its proportion of the public 
burdens. The levy, in each place, was made by the offi- 
cers of said plantation or town ; and the following order, 
from the General Government, attests to the ideas of right 
universally existing : — 

"1634, May 14: It is further ordered, that, in all rates and public 
charges, the towns shall have respect to levy every man according to 
his estate, and with consideration of all other his abilities whatsoever, 
and not according to the number of his persons [or the individuals 
of his family]." 

" 1636, March 3 : For explanation of an order made at the General 
Court in May, 1634, it is ordered, that hereafter all men shall be 
rated, in all rates, for their whole ability, luheresoever it lics.^'' 

In a general levy of ;^6oo, in 1634, Medford paid ;^26 ; 
Charlestown, £,a,'^. In 1635, in a levy of ;^200, Medford 
paid £,\o, and Charlestown ^16. Keeping about these 
proportions, Medford paid its share as follows : In 1635, 
£\<^. 155-. ; in 1636, ^^15 ; in 1637, ^49. \2s. ; in 1638, 
;^59. 5.f. %d. ; in 1639, '40, and '41, no record of tax; in 
1642, ^10; in 1643, £-]. 

Winthro}") tells us, that, — 

"Of a tax of ;^i,500, levied by the General Court in 1637, the 
proportion paid by Medford was £^z. \os. ; by Boston, ^233. \os. ; 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 365 

Ipswich, ^180 ; Salem, ^170. los.; Dorchester, ;i^i4o; Charlestown, 
;^i38; Roxbur}-, ^^115; Watertown, ^iio; Newton, ^106; Lynn, 

i:>05-" 

The diversity in the several years was owing to accidental 
occurrences, such as supporting the expedition against the 
Pequods ; also for service-money, to prevent the effort in 
England to withdraw the charter of Massachusetts, and 
to liquidate charges in London. 

The rates and prices were distinguished as follows : — 

" It is ordered, that, in payment, silver plate shall pass at five shil- 
lings the ounce ; good old Indian corn, growing here, being clean and 
merchantable, at five shillings the bushel ; summer wheat, at seven 
shillings the bushel ; rye, at six shillings and eight pence the bushel ; 
and, for horses, mares, cows, goats, and hogs, there is a committee 
appointed to value them under their worth, rather than above their 
worth." 

At this time (1644), Medford began to pay its tax to 
Harvard College. Each family was required to send one 
peck of corn annually, for the support of poor students. 

Until 1646 the poll-tax of each man in Medford was 
one shilling and eightpence ; on real estate, one penny 
on the pound. 

The above data show how heavily or lightly Medford 
was taxed during the first ten years of its history. The 
grants of land made, in 1634, by the General Court, to 
Rev. Mr. Wilson of Boston, Mathew Cradock, Esq., of 
London, and Mr. J. Nowell, were exempted from taxation ; 
and, as some of them lay within the limits of Medford, 
it made this town an exception. In the records of the 
General Court, April 4, 1641, we find the following : — 

" It is ordered, that all farms that are within the bounds of any 
town shall be of the town in which they lye, except Afeadford." 
" Meadford declared ^. peculiar town, Oct. 15, 1684." 

While it was right in the General Court to make gifts 
of land, tax-free, to such distinguished benefactors of the 
Province, it deprived Medford of so much annual income 
as said districts would have paid. No complaint was made 
on this account ; and our fathers struggled through nobly, 
notwithstanding their small means and yet smaller num- 
bers. The above record of taxes tells a tale of deep 
interest. We can see how a handful of first settlers, in 
a wilderness district, who could only pay three pounds 
towards a provincial tax, must live from year to year. 



366 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Fed by what they could raise from their own lands, and 
clothed by what they could weave in their own looms, their 
cares must have been uniform, pressing, and material. 
Bound together in a common lot and a common danger, they 
must have been well acquainted with each other, and must 
have passed much time in friendly consultation for the 
common good. With these elements before us, it will be 
easy for every one to imagine what our earliest settlers 
could not do, and what they could ; and thus see their 
habits, actions, and hopes. 

After these inferences from the taxes of Medford, during 
the first ten years of its history, we can proceed to gauge 
its growth in succeeding years by the same means. 

"At a Court of Elections at Boston the 14th of the 
third month, 1645, the levy upon the towns of the Province 
was £,6\6. \^s. ; and Medford's amount was JC,"]!' 

There were three kinds of taxes, — province, county, 
and town. The first tax-bills of Massachusetts Colony, 
which were made out by counties, began October, 1659; 
and, in these, the tax of " Meadford " was far lower than 
that of any adjoining town. 

In 1657, "Meadford" was taxed as one of the towns of 
the county of Middlesex, in a county levy, £,'i^. 6s. \\d. ; 
in 1658, ;63. 3^- ^d. ; in 1663, £^. ^s. 6d. ; in 1670, £4. 
I2s. ; in 1674, £4. "^s. lod. ; in 1676, £4. is. lod. During 
these years, Cambridge was paying ;^40 ; Woburn, £2y, 
Maiden, £16; and Charlestown, £60. A county-tax of 
£1. 13^-. gd., levied on Meadford, Jan. 17, 1684, was paid 
by the inhabitants as follows : — 



Capt. Jonathan Wade 
Capt. Nathaniel Wade 
John Hall . . 
Caleb Brooks . 
Thomas Willis 
Stephen Willis 
Peter Tufts, jun. 
Stephen Francis 
John Whitmore 
Gershom Swan 
Isaac Fox . . 



s. 


<f. 


6 


4 


4 


3 


3 


3 


I 


II 


3 


7 


I 


10 


3 


4 


I 


10 


I 


7 


I 


5 





II 



John Bradshor 
Jonathan Tufts 
Daniel Woodward 
Andrew Mitchell . 
Roger Scott . . 
Edward Walker . 
Jacob Chamberlain 
Joseph Baker . . 



J. d. 

o 8 

o 10 

o 8 

o 8 

o 7 

o 8 

o 8 

o 8 



^i 15 8 



The excess raised in this tax, over the sum required, 
was to pay the collector. 

The valuation of live-stock, for rates in Medford, at this 
time, were the following : Oxen, four years and upwards, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



367 



in 1677, £,}) ; in 1687, ^^5. Horses, three years and up- 
wards, in 1677, p^3 ; in 1687, ;^5. Cows and bulls, four 
years old, in 1677, ;£2; in 1687, ;^3. Sheep, above one 
year old, in 1677, ^s. each ; in 1687, 8j-. Swine, above 
one year, in 1677, \os. ; in 1687, £\. 

The first session of the General Court, under the second 
charter, began June 8, 1692 ; and they voted that \os. a 
poll, and one quarter part of the annual income on all real 
and personal estate in the Province, be assessed. These 
taxes, assessed upon the Province by the House of Repre- 
sentatives from 1692 to 1702, averaged ;!^ 11,000 per an- 
num. Of this sum, Medford paid, in 1692, £,'^2. i8i'. ; in 
1696, £>Af2\ in 1698, ;^20 ; in 1702, £>\<^. is. ; while Mai- 
den paid, in the same years, ;^I2I, ;^90, £,^1, and ^^48. 
Woburn paid ;^i8i, ;!^I44, ;^75, and ;^85. Cambridge 
paid ;^2i4, ;^i89, ^102, and ;!^I02. 

To show a town-tax at this period, and also the names 
most frequently occurring in the town's records, we here 
insert "a rate made by the selectmen. May 16, 1701, for 
defraying town-charges ; namely, for the deputy, and the 
laying-in of ammunition, and for fetching and carrying 
Mr. Woodbridge, and the entertaining of him." 



Maj. Nathaniel Wade 
John Whitmore . 
Stephen Hall, jun. 
Eliezer Wier . . 
John Bradstreet . 
John Man . . . 
Lieut. Peter Tufts 
Ens. Stephen Francis 
Serg. John Bradshaw 
Mr. Thomas Willis 
Nathaniel Hall . 
John Francis . . 
John Hall, jun. 
Jonathan Tufts 
Stephen Willis, jun. 
Stephen Hall, sen. 
Serg. Stephen Willis 
Ebenezer Brooks 
Samuel Brooks 
Mr. Richard Rookes 
Mrs. Elizabeth Wade 
Parcill Hall .... 
George Blanchard . 



£. 


s. 


d. 


I 


6 


4 





6 


8 





7 


5 





5 


8 





7 


6 





I 





I 


5 


10 





16 


8 





II 


5 





17 


6 





5 


4 





12 


6 





8 


6 





19 


ID 





6 


8 





6 


6 


I 


I 


4 





17 


8 





10 


10 





7 








18 


9 





6 


6 





3 


6 



Jacob Shepherd . 
Nathaniel Peirce . 
James Tufts . . 
Timothy Prout 
Mr. Thomas Swan 
John Tufts . . . 
Mr. Joseph Prout 
Francis Whitmore 
Benjamin Marble 
James Wright . 
William Merroe 
Thomas Miler . 
Mathew Miler . 
William Walden 
Thomas Clark . 
Peter Seccomb 
Eben. Brooks his 
Benjamin Peirce 
Samuel Stone . 
William Paten . 
Mr. Jonathan Dunster 
Mr. John Hall . . . 



o 13 

2 

4 
I 
I 
2 



o 10 
4 o 



I 8 
I 10 



The warrant issued to the constable empowered that 



368 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

functionary "to distrain the goods or chattels of any per- 
son or persons who refuse to pay ; and in case there be no 
goods or chattels, then he is to seize the body of any per- 
son who refuses, and commit him to the county jail." 

To show what taxes were assessed for, it will be inter- 
esting to see a record of the entire debts of the town of 
Medford, April 19, 1710. It is as follows: — 

£. s. d. 
Due to Ensign John Bradstreet, for dining the ministers 

thirteen saljbaths, at \s. 6(/. per sabbath o 19 6 

Due to Captain Peter Tufts, John Francis, Ebenezer 

Brooks, and Samuel Wade, 5^. per man, — paid to Mrs. 

Bradstreet, for nursing Rachel Blanchard i 00 

Due to Ebenezer Brool^s, for actions entered in court ..020 
For taking a copy out of the records, &c., about John 

Man 046 

For pocket expenses in tending court three days . . . . o 3 o 
Due to Thomas Willis, for sweeping meeting-house, 1709 . o 15 
Due to .Mr. Samuel Wade, for John Man's diet eleven 

weeks, at 3J. per week i 13 o 

Also boarding John Man three weeks, at 4^. per week ..012 o 
Also for five weeks' sickness in the eleven weeks' board 

aforesaid o 4 o 

Due to Thomas Hall, constable, for James Tufts's head- 
money .0 10 

Due to Stephen Willis, sen., for pocket-money at Court of 

Sessions, three days o 3 

Due to Ensign Stephen Francis, for boarding John Man 

ten weeks, at 4^-. per week 200 

Due to John Francis, for money paid to the clerk about a 

presentment of Mistick Bridge o 2 6 

For pocket expenses at court, three days, about John Man, 030 
Money paid for searching the records about John Man ..009 

/8 13 3 

To show the relative amount and distribution of prop- 
erty among the inhabitants, the following record of taxes 
paid by each is here inserted : — 

"Sept. 20, 171 1 : This list is a county rate that was made and per- 
fected by the assessors, in obedience to a warrant from James Taylor, 
gent., treasurer, for the levying a tax on polls and estate, both real 
and personal." 

£ 

Lieutenant Thomas Willis . . o 

Ensign Stephen Francis . . i 

John Francis, sen o 

John Whitmore 

Francis Whitmore o 

John Whitmore. jun o 

Mrs. Elizabeth Wade . . . o 



leads. 




Real Estate. 


Personal Estate. 


s. 


d. 


£ 


s. 


d. 


£ 


s. d. 


10 





I 


16 








10 II 











16 


6 





10 2 


10 





I 


4 








16 n 


10 








1 1 


7 





7 7 


10 








12 


9 





S 6 


10 








10 


6 





« 3 








I 


13 


10 


I 


: 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



369 



Heads. 

£. s. 
Miss Elizabeth Wade ...00 

John Hall o 10 

Mrs. Mercj' Wade o o 

Seth Ricliardson o 10 

Samuel Kendall o 10 

Joseph Blancher o_ 10 

Nathaniel Wilson o 10 

Samuel Wade o 10 

John Tufts o o 

Stephen Willis, jun 010 

John Willis o 14 

Thomas Dill o 10 

Nathaniel Hall i o 

Thomas Willis, jun 010 

Benjamin Peirce o 10 

Nathaniel Peirce o 10 

William Willis o 10 

Jonathan Hall o 10 

Stephen Hall i o 

Pacifall Hall 010 

Samuel Polly i o 

Jonathan Blanchard . . . . o o 

Richard Belsher o o 

Peter Seccomb 2 o 

Ebenezer Nutting o 10 

Isaac Farewell o 10 

Peter Waitt 010 

Samuel Polly, jun o 10 

Francis Lock o 10 

Aaron Blanchard o 10 

Mr. James Tufts o o 

Mr. Thomas Tufts .... o 10 
Mr. Samuel Brooks .... o 10 
Mr. Jonathan Dunster ...00 
Captain Josiah Convers ...00 

Jabesh Brooks o o 

Joseph Wright o o 

John Francis, jun o 4 

Richard Rookes o 10 

Thomas Oakes o 10 

James Tufts o o 

Stephen Hall o o 

John Albery o 10 

Jonathan Tufts i r 

Ensign John Bradshoe . . . i o 

Thomas Hall o 10 

Mr. Ebenezer Brooks. . . . i o 

Stephen Willis, sen o 10 

Captain Peter Tufts ....010 
John Hall, jun o 10 



d. 


Real Estate. 
£ s. d. 


Persona 


1 Estate. 
s. d. 








9 

















I 


I 


5 





12 


4 








12 


4 





2 


7 










b 
6 


9 
9 






4 

I 


1 








5 


3 





7 











9 


4 





I 


I 








19 


2 





6 


9 








15 


b 














I 


7 








9 











IS 








8 











II 


I 





3 


9 








4 


6 

















6 








6 











5 


4 





I 











6 








2 


7 








I 


I 





6 


4 








8 








s 


7 








16 








12 











15 








6 


9 








.3 








I 


6 








.3 




















3 


9 

















15 


9 





8 


3 








12 








7 


I 








3 








I 


I 






























































































4 
6 


6 
9 






4 

2 


6 

8 





I 





3 





ID 


II 








6 


9 

















6 




















I 


I 

















I 


I 




































































I 


6 








9 























3 



































I 


14 


6 


I 


12 


3 








19 


I 





13 


10 








10 


6 





4 


II 





I 


5 


II 


I 


7 


4 





I 


I 








10 


II 








16 








19 


I 
























To judge accurately of taxes paid by our ancestors after 



370 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



1 710, it is needful to know the rate of depreciation in the 
" Province bills," which were taken in payment for taxes. 
In 1 7 10 one ounce of silver was equal to %s. of these 
bills; in 1722, 14^-.; in 1732, \<^s.\ in 1742, 2Zs.\ and in 
1752, 60s. 

In July 20, 1720, the General Court ordered, that taxes 
might be paid in live-stock and merchandise, instead of 
money ; and, from 1720 to 1750, live-stock in Medford was 
valued, on an average, as follows : Oxen, four years old, 
£,2 each ; horses, three years old, £,2 ; bulls and cows, 
three years old, £,1. \os. ; swine, above one year old, %s. 
each ; sheep and goats, 3^. each. 

In those towns which had vessels, a decked vessel was 
valued, for taxation, at £,\. \os. per ton; and undecked 
vessels (Medford lighters), at £,\ per ton. Stock in trade 
was valued at one-quarter of its worth ; male Indian and 
negro slaves at £,\^ each, female at £,\o. 

To show a list of tax-payers in 1730, and their relative 
rates, the following town-tax for £,i)0 — the half-yearly 
pay of Rev, Ebenezer Turell — is inserted : — 



Captain Ebenezer Brooks 
Mr. John Bradshaw . 
Deacon John Whitmore 
John Richerson, Esq. 
Captain Samuel Brooks 
Captain Samuel Wade 
Thomas Tufts, Esq. . 
Mr. Peter Seccombe . 
Mr. John Willis . . 
Lieutenant Stephen Hall 
Deacon Thomas Hall 
Deacon Thomas Willis 
Mr. Francis Whitmore 
Mr. John Whitmore 
Mr. William Patten 
Mr. Jonathan Hall . 
Dr. Simon Tufts . 
Mr. William Willis 
Mr. Benjamin Willis 
Mr. John Albree . 
Mr. John Hall . . 
Mr. Andrew Hall . 
Mr. Thomas Oakes 
Joseph Tufts . . . 
John Bradsliaw, jun. 
Jonathan Bradshaw 
Nathaniel Hall . . 





Heads 




Real Estate. 


Personal Estate. 


L 


s. 


r/. 


£ 


.r. 


</. 


£ 


^. 


d. 





9 





I 


I 








9 


9 





6 








12 


3 





3 


9 





3 








7 








I 


3 





3 








S 


2 





I 


10 





3 








18 


8 





8 


4 





6 








17 


6 





3 

















18 


4 





4 


7 





9 








14 








9 


4 





3 








16 


8 





6 


7 





3 








•4 








3 


4 





3 








12 


2 








8 





6 








1 1 


5 





I 


9 





3 








14 


4 





3 


3 





6 








16 


8 





4 








3 








5 


10 





I 








3 








9 


4 





'I 


II 





3 








12 


3 





3 


5 





3 








1 1 


4 





I 


7 





3 








14 


3 





5 


9 





3 








9 


1 1 





I 


10 





3 








7 


8 





4 


3 





3 








8 


2 





3 


II 





6 








18 


8 













3 








15 


6 





7 


7 





6 








9 


4 





2 


I 





3 








ID 


6 














3 








9 


4 








II 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



371 



Nathaniel Francis o 

Stephen Francis o 

Samuel Polly o 

Benjamin Tufts o 

Aaron Blanchard o 

Benjamin Weber o 

Jonathan Weber o 

William Benford o 

John Atwood o 

John Tufts o 

Joseph Francis o 

Stephen Greenleaf . . . . o 

Richard Waite o 

Jacob Polly o 

Samuel Turner o 

Oliver Atwood o 

Joseph Weber o 

Ebenezer Francis o 

John Fossit o 

Enoch Greenleaf ..... o 

John Stimson o 

William Patten, jun o 

Ebenezer Brooks, jun. . . . o 

Stephen Hall, jun o 

Robert Cresson o 

Daniel Paine o 

Jonathan Hall, jun o 

Thomas Phillebrown . . . . o 

Samuel Bradshaw o 

Stephen Bradshaw. ■ . . . . o 

William Watsen . . . . . o 

Jonathan Watsen o 

Thomas Dill o 

Jonathan Polly o 

Jonathan Tufts o 

Stephen Patten ...... o 

Eliot Patten o 

WilHam Hall o 

Edward Hall o 

John Elder o 

William Pelam o 

William Waite o 

Deacon Jacob Parker . . . . o 

Thomas Graves o 

Ebenezer Tufts o 

Thomas Brooks o 

John Fillebrown o 

Richard Martin o 

Jonathan Tomson o 

Edward Oakes o 

Caleb Brooks o 

Matthew Ellis o 

Abner Harris o 



Heads. 



Real Estate. Personal Estate. 



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372 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



£ 

Jonathan Tufts o 

James Wright o 

James Tufts o 

Joseph Wright o 

William Symmes o 

Joseph Damon o 

Jonathan Dunster o 

Henry IJunster o 

David Dunster o 

Jacob Wayman o 

Samuel Francis o 

Samuel Page o 

Widow Mary Tufts . . . . o 

John Francis o 

Benjamin Parker o 

Richard Sprague o 

Joseph Tomson o 

Samuel Brooks, jun o 

Total, ninety-eight persons. 

As a specimen of the town expenses and tax for one year, 
let us take 1747. They are as follows {old tenor) : — 

Balance due the town from last account ^41 5 3 

Whole town-tax for 1747 490 14 4 

-^531 19 7 
Treasurer paid, during the year 1747, by orders from said 

town 431 15 II 

Balance due from treasurer 100 3 8 

Errors excepted. Pr. 

Joseph Tufts, ' \ r- u* 
Thomas Brooks, \ Committee. 

June 5, 1753, the General Court laid a tax on coaches, 
chariots, chaises, calashes, and riding-chairs. Medford, in 
1754, had I chariot, 7 chaises, and 31 chairs. Cambridge, 
during the same time, had 9 chaises and "^y^ chairs. 
Woburn had 2 chaises and 9 chairs. Maiden had 2 
chaises and 20 chairs. 

During the Revolutionary struggle, debts were accumu- 
lated to vast amounts; and, on the 26th February, 1781, 
the Legislature stated, that ^950,000, specie value, were 
needed to meet the annual current expenditures, ^320,000 
of which were to be discharged by taxes. At such a 
time, when parsimony would have been crime, as timidity 
would have been treason, our patriotic ancestors marched 
nobly forward, as their prompt payment of the following 
taxes testify. In 1781, Medford paid £1,177. los.; in 






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HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



373 



1786, £\,o\6. 5^.; in 1791, £'^'^- 6^. 11^. Ratable polls 
in Medford (1784) were 223. 

List of occupiers of houses, in 1798, who are taxed tor 
more than $100 : — 



Samuel Albree. 

Asa Adams. 

Benjamin Hovey. 

Benjamin Teal. 

Caleb Brooks. 

John Bishop. 

Abigail Bishop. 

Samuel Swan. 

Ebenezer Thompson. 

Nathan Wait. 

Thomas Bradshaw, jun. 

Nathaniel Mead. 

Zachariah Shed. 

Leonard Bucknam. 

Spencer Bucknam. 

John Bacon. 

Abigail Brooks and Rufus Frost. 

John Brooks and Mary Patten. 

John Brooks. 

Jethro Townsend. 

Caleb Brooks, jun. 

Thomas Brooks. 

S. Buel and Augustus Hunt. 

Thomas Bradshaw. 

Andrew Blanchard. 

Timothy Newell. 

Hezekiah Blanchard, jun. 

Ruth Benford. 

Jonathan Brooks. 

William Bradbury. 

Francis Burns. 

Marah Billings. 

Hezekiah Blanchard. 

David Bucknam. 

John Chadwick. 

John Cutter. 

Miles S. Wilson. 

Jonathan Dunham. 

Aaron Crowell. 

William Earl. 

Deborah Francis. 

Sarah Fulton. 

Henry Fowle. 

Benjamin Floyd. 

Benjamin Floyd, jun. 

Isaac Floyd. 

John Fowl. 

Gardner Greenleaf. 

Isaac Greenleaf. 

Edmund T. Gates. 

Ebenezer Hall. 

Nathl. Hall and Susan Patten. 

Willis Hall. 

Abigail Hadley. 



Samuel Hadley. 

Benjamin Hall. 

Benjamin Hall, jun. 

Ephraim Hall. 

Andrew Hall. 

John B. Fitch. 

And. Blanchard and A. Winship. 

Timothy Dexter. 

Caleb and Simon Blanchard. 

Jane Hall. 

Ebenezer Hall, jun. 

John Blanchard and James Floyd. 

Tab. Blanchard and J. Gleason. 

Ebenezer Hall, 4th. 

Samuel Coverly. 

Richard Hall. 

Parker and Watson. 

Joseph Pratt. 

J. Pratt and M. Tufts. 

Jos. P. Hall. 

Stephen Hall. 

Thomas Hadley. 

James Convers. 

Jonas Di.xon. 

Duncan Ingraham. 

John C. Jones. 

John Walker and Jos. Tysick. 

Joanna Kidder. 

Samuel Kidder. 

Abner Peirce. 

Thomas Learned. 

William Lowder. 

John Leathe. 

Jude Symonds. 

David Osgood. 

Josiah Polly. 

Jonathan Porter. 

Isaac Pratt. 

Thomas Hewes. 

Benjamin Reed. 

Peter Tufts. 

James Tufts. 

G. Williams and Dan. Farrington. 

William Bucknum. 

Sam. Hall and John Greenleaf. 

J. Bannister and Lucy Pritchard. 

Jeduthan Richardson. 

Joshua Symonds. 

John .Symmes. 

Josiah Symmes. 

Ebenezer Symonds. 

Thomas Savel. 

Daniel Symonds. 

Samuel Thompson. 



374 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Samuel Teal. 
Samuel Teal. 
Samuel Tufts, jun. 
Abigail Tarbutt. 
Benjamin Tufts. 
Gershom Tufts. 
Benjamin Tufts, jtin. 
Jacob Tufts. 
Hutchinson Tufts. 
Peter Tufts. 
Isaac Tufts. 
Daniel Tufts. 
Jonathan Tufts. 
Ebenezer Tufts. 
James Tufts. 
Gershom Teal. 
Watts Turner. 
Hutchinson Tufts, jun. 
Eleazer Usher. 



Nathaniel Watts. 

Ebenezer Williams. 

Isaac Warren. 

Gardner Greenleaf. 

Joseph Wyman. 

James Wyman. 

John Wade. 

Convers P'rancis. 

John Mead and John Williams. 

Webster. 

Joseph Wyman. 

Benj. Pratt and Brown. 

Isaac Greenleaf and II. Popkins. 

John Wright. 

Jonathan Godden. 

John Hall and Joseph Tufts. 

Francis Wait. 

James Kidder. 



The inhabitants occupied one hundred and thirty-six 
houses, which were valued at $74,032.80; making an aver- 
age value of $544 each. The town valuation of all other 
property was $160,116.60. Taxes were assessed on 4,603 
acres of land. 

We may close these tables of taxes by inserting the 
State valuation tables for several decades, Medford stands 
thus : In 1790, its State valuation was $9,441.68 ; in 1800, 
$15,036,08; in 1810, $26,311.19; in 1820, $30,507.84; in 
1830, $931,050; in 1840, $1,095,195.31. In 1850, real 
estate, $1,212,551.50 ; personal, $915,919. We give a more 
detailed statement of valuation and taxes from 1861 to 
1883: — 

TOWN OF MEDFORD. 





State Tax. 


State, Coun- 
ty, AND Town 
Tax. 


Valuation. 


Total. 




Personal. 


Real. 




1861 .... 
1865 .... 
1870 .... 

1875 .... 

1880 .... 
1883 .... 


$24,957.00 
13,275.00 
8,160.00 
7,695.00 
7,020.00 


$38,198.64 

75,775-65 
84,186.00 
173,743.00 
113,823.00 
131,723.00 


$1,739,670.00 
1,933,485.00 
2,230,634.00 
1,859,102.00 
1,763,940.00 
1,708,479.00 


$3,443,421.00 
3,161,521.00 
3,741,870.00 
8,028,415.00 
5,582,675.00 
5,882,045.00 


$5,183,091.00 
5,095,006.00 
5,972,504.00 
9,887,517.00 
7,346,615.00 
7.590,524.00 



These tables of taxes prove how Medford, from small 
beginnings, gradually increased in numbers and wealth. 
There was never any sudden development of its resources, 
but a steadily increasing use of its natural advantages. 
Its march became more and more rapid as we approach 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 375; 

the nineteenth century, when its increase and prosperity- 
were equal to those of any town in the State. 

As the records of the first forty years of the town are 
lost, we have hunted in every crevice and corner to find 
representative facts belonging to that period ; and, after 
availing of each fragmentary tradition, we have fixed on 
the taxes assessed by the General Court and county, as 
indicating with most precision the ability and condition of 
the earliest settlers ; and, having discovered their ability 
and condition, it is not difficult to imagine their labors, 
habits, and advancement. We have thus taken the taxes 
as our light-house, to guide us along the unmapped coast 
of our new settlement. 

In the record of taxes, one occasionally finds strange 
facts. Here is one: "June 27, 1695. As an unusual 
requisition, females who earned a livelihood were taxed 
each two shillings, being half what the males were assessed 
a head, in the tax of this date." 

In our town-records we find the following notices side 
by side : "May 5, 1750: Voted to abate Thomas Brooks, 
jun.'s rates (^4. 13^-. A^d., old tenor), he being not of age." 
"Voted to abate Lieutenant Stephen Hall's rates for his 
head {^3. 5^"., old tenor), he being very old." In our ear- 
liest history, when the inhabitants had raised a certain 
sum in advance, two men, Nathan Lyon and Roger Scott, 
who had contributed their share, soon after moved out of 
town. At the next town-meeting, it was unanimously 
voted to refund to these men what they had paid. 

CURRENCY. 

To understand the currency used by our Medford ances- 
tors, is to understand much of their habits and customs ; 
for the mediums of exchange and barter, whatever they 
be, exert a magical influence over the labors, wishes, and 
attachments of society. Whatever has been prescribed 
by legislative authority, or adopted by general usage, as a 
medium of exchange, may be denominated ctLvrcncy. The 
substances adopted as a standard of value have been very 
various in different ages and countries. In ancient times, 
in Italy and Greece, the standard was cattle, sometimes 
leather'; in Europe, a stiver nail, iron bars, tin plates ; in 
India, shells ; in Africa, bricks and beads ; in Mexico, maize 
and cocoa ; in the West Indies, sugar ; in Newfoundland, 



1^6 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

dried cod ; in Virginia, tobacco ; and, among the Indians, 
zvamptim. 

In this last article, and in peltry, our ancestors traded 
much with the aboriginal inhabitants. Wampum was a 
belt formed of shells, black and white. " The white," 
says Roger Williams, " were made of the stock, or stem, 
'of the periwinkle, when all the shell is broken off; and, of 
•this sort, six of their small beads, which they make with 
holes to string their bracelets, are current with the Eng- 
lish for a penny. The second is black, inclining to blue, 
■which is made of the shell of a fish, which some English 
■ call hens-poquahock ; and, of this sort, three make an 
English penny. One fathom of this, their stringed money, 
is worth five shillings." 

To show how this shell-currency of the natives was pre- 
pared for ready exchange, we quote the law of Oct. i8, 
1648: — 

" It is ordered, for trial till the next court, that all passable or pay- 
able peage henceforth shall be entire, without breaches, both the 
white and black, without deforming spots, suitably strung in eight 
known parcels, — one penny, threepence, twelvepence, five shillings, 
in white; twopence, sixpence, two shillings and sixpence, and ten 
shillings, in black." 

Medford paid its share towards the support of Rev. 
Messrs. Patricke and Underbill; and, Sept. 7, 1630, "it is 
• ordered that Mr. Patricke and Mr. Underbill shall have 
allowed them, for half a year's provision, two hogsheads of 
meal, four bushels of malt, ten pounds of powder, and lead to 
make shot ; also house-room provided for them, and fifteen 
pounds twelve shillings in money to make other provision 
from the time they begin to keep house." These records 
show how the Pilgrims managed their currency : — 

" Sir Richard Saltonstall is fined four bushels of malt, for his ab- 
sence from court." 

" Mr. Robert Saltonstall is fined five shillings, for presenting his 
petition on so small and bad a piece of paper." 

" Chickataubott is fined a skin of a beaver, for shooting a swine of 
Sir Richard Saltonstall." 

Silver was exceedingly scarce at the time Medford was 
settled ; hence the necessity of adopting some other stand- 
ards of value. All accounts were kept in the pounds, 
shillings, pence, and farthings of the mother country. 
For more than half a century, the law of Oct. 18, 163 1, 
was in active operation here. That law was as follows : — 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 377 

" It is ordered that corn shall pass for payment of all debts, at the 
usual rate it is sold for, except money or beaver be expressly named." 

Oct. 3, 1633 : " It is agreed that the best sort of laborers shall not 
take above eighteen-pence a day, if they diet themselves ; and not 
above eightpence a day, if they have diet found them. Further, it is 
ordered that all workmen shall work the whole day, allowing conven- 
ient time for food and rest." 

Nov. 8, 1633: ''Ordered that no persons shall sell to any of the 
inhabitants within this jurisdiction any provision, clothing, tools, or 
other commodities, above the rate of fourpence in a shilling more 
than the same cost, or might be bought for ready money, in England." 

Sept. 3, 1634: " No person that keeps an ordinary shall take above 
sixpence a meal for a person ; and not above one penny for an ale- 
quart of beer, out of mealtime." 

March 4, 1635 : " Ordered that musket-bullets of a full bore shall 
pass currently for a farthing apiece, provided that no man be com- 
pelled to take above twelvepence at a time of them." 

The legal premium allowed for the loan of currency was 
eight per cent, and so continued for a short time after 
the second charter. These facts and laws reveal to us the 
every-day calculations, and many of the social habits, of 
our Medford ancestors ; and, in the absence of town- 
records, serve as authentic data from which we can write 
the history of their cares and labors, their sacrifices and 
prosperity. They found it difficult to pay the wages of 
their workmen and servants. Even such men as Govern- 
or Winthrop were hard pressed in this way. He illus- 
trates the severities of the common lot in these words : — 

" I may report a passage between one Rowley and his servant. 
The master being forced to sell a pair of his oxen to pay his servant 
his wages, told his servant he could keep him no longer, not knowing 
how to pay him next year. The servant answered him, he could serve 
him for more of his cattle. ' But what shall I do'(saith the master) 
' when all my cattle are gone ? ' The servant replied, ' You shall then 
serve me ; and so you may have your cattle again.' " 

It was natural enough that such extremities as these 
should awaken the public mind to some modes of perma- 
nent relief; and they did suggest the establishment of 
a mint at Boston. May 31, 1652, the General Court 
ordered, that, "from and after the ist of September next, 
and no longer, the money hereafter appointed and ex- 
pressed shall be the current money of this Commonwealth, 
and no other, unless English (except the receivers consent 
thereunto)." Thus 1652 saw our fathers coining money 
witlwiit the consent of the king, to whom alone belonged 
the constitutional right of so doing. 

The building erected for the mint was sixteen feet 



3/8 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

square and ten feet high. Such an edifice surely could 
not deserve the sneer of that adage, " Twelve pence laid 
out on the purse, and only six in it." 

One effect of introducing a New-England coinage was 
to change the custom of computing in Old-England cur- 
rency; for, in the London market, the American coin 
sank at a rate of one-quarter below theirs. 

The device on the die was as follows : "A double ring 
on either side, with this inscription, Massachusetts, and a 
tree in the centre, on the one side ; and New England, 
and the year of our Lord, on the other side." This was 
called the "pine-tree currency;" and it was in use for 
more than a hundred years. The pine-tree was a favorite 
emblem with our fathers. It expressed to them some- 
thing un-English, and something durable. When inde- 
pendence was declared, Massachusetts {April ii, 1776) 
put it on her State flag, and fought the battle of Bunker 
Hill under its ancestral encouragements. It gave place 
only to the thirteen stripes. 

When Thomas Temple, Esq., went to London, in May, 
1662, and was introduced to the King, he presented his 
Majesty with specimens of our coins. Seeing a tree on 
one of them, Charles inquired, "What sort of a tree is 
that .'' " Mr. Temple immediately replied, " It is the 
royal oak, which preserved your Majesty's life." The an- 
swer conciliated the unbotanical king, and induced him to 
grant Mr. Temple what he asked. 

The mint was suppressed by James II. ; and thereupon, 
in 1686, our Massachusetts patriots began to move in 
the establishment of a bank; and, on Sept. 18 of that 
year, President Dudley and council granted liberty to cer- 
tain directors "to issue bills, on security of real and per- 
sonal estate." These continued but three years. Dec. 
10, 1690, the General Court established a provincial bank, 
and issued paper-money to the amount of seven thousand 
pounds, in bills from five shillings to five pounds. This 
paper currency continued in use till 1750. These paper 
bills, soon after their issue, fell in value at least one-third. 
The government tried to remedy this evil by allowing five 
per cent advance on the specie and par value of the bills 
in all public payments. This restored them to par for 
about twenty years. They were called "old charter bills." 
June 8, 1693, the General Court changed the rate of inter- 
est from eight per cent to six. 



g|f<»#t!|M|©!eSS€^ 





5 



E ^iu ^ . MS gg^ 





HISTORY OF MED FORD. 379 

So common had become the vicious habit of clipping 
gold and silver money, that the government issued a proc- 
lamation, March 3, 1705, "that no money shall pass by 
tale but what is of due weight." Almost every family had 
a pair of scales to weigh the gold and silver they took. 

The two crusades against Canada, about this time, forced 
the colonies to issue "bills of credit," to pay the soldiers. 
These lost credit, and somewhat depreciated ; and here 
was another embarrassment suffered by our fathers. De- 
cember, 1724, Judge Sewall says, "The diminution of the 
value of the bills of public credit is the cause of much 
oppression in the Province." Golden says (1728), "Our 
paper-currency has gradually lost its credit, so as at present 
sixteen shillings is but sufficient to purchase an ounce of 
silver." Governor Belcher says (1733), "Sixteen shillings 
in these bills will not purchase five shillings lawful money." 

Lawful money, as distinguished from old tenor, is first 
mentioned in the Medford records. May 17, 1750. The 
town voted. May 21, 1751, to give Mr. Turell, as salary for 
that year, ;!^73. 6s. 8d. (lawful money), which was equal to 
p^550 (old tenor). In 1754, voted to give him ;^8o (lawful 
money), which was equal to £600 (old tenor). 

In 1 761 ;^io were equal to ;C7S old tenor, ^24 to £180, 
and £80 to ^600. 

It is not easy, in our day of plenty and power, to esti- 
mate those perplexities and fears of our fathers which came 
from an empty treasury, a defenceless country, and an 
embarrassed trade. To show how very slowly they must 
have gathered money, we give a table of prices of such 
productions as were taken for rates at the treasury. Good 
merchantable beef, ;^3 a barrel ; do. pork, ;^$. los. ; win- 
ter wheat, Si". ; summer, ys. ; barley, 6s. ; rye, 6s. ; Indian 
corn, 4s. ; oats, 2s. 6d. a bushel. Flax, is. ^d. ; hemp, (^d. ; 
beeswax, 2s. 6d. a pound. Pease, clear of bugs, 9^-. a bushel. 
Sweet firkin butter, \2d. a pound. Merchantable dry cod- 
fish, ;^i. \os. a quintal; mackerel, £,1. \os.\ oil, £2. los. 
a barrel. Whalebone, six feet long and upward, 3^". 6d. ; 
bayberry-wax, is. A,d. a pound. Turpentine, full bound, 
lis. ; merchantable bar-iron, 48^'. ; cast-iron pots and kettles, 
48^. a hundred. Well-cured tobacco, ^d. ; good tried tallow, 
8d. a pound. 

We can but faintly conceive the embarrassments which 
our ancestors here must have encountered from the fluctu- 
ating prices of their products ; especially when, as in 1740, 



380 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

there were circulating in Massachusetts public bills of four 
provinces, at 2<^s. for an ounce of silver ; new tenor of 
Massachusetts at 6s. 8d., but current at Qy. 8d. oz. of sil- 
ver ; Connecticut new tenor at 8s., and Rhode Island new 
tenor at 6s. gd. Our fathers, under these circumstances, 
must have been good mathematicians to understand this 
occult chemistry of trade. 

July 30, 1781 : Medford voted "to raise ;£ioo t'/i specie, 
in lieu of the ;!{^400 raised on the 29th of June last." This 
would seem to imply that ;^ioo specie was worth ;^400 of 
New-England money. Aug. 20, 1781 : "Voted to raise 
;^450 /lard money, instead of the ;!^ 1,300 paper money, 
voted in May last." 

It is not necessary to trace further the currency of the 
Province, or to show the effects of the issue of " Continen- 
tal money," or the "sword-in-hand" money of 1775, or the 
influence of the Stamp Act, and the subsequent oppres- 
sions of the Crown upon the trade, comfort, or hopes of our 
fathers. The currency of the country, from its settlement 
to the present time, pertains as much to the town of Med- 
ford as to any other town. It makes part and parcel of 
its history. It influenced every family's labor, and shaped 
the town's laws. May 12, 1791, the town voted to sell the 
" old Continental money " then in the treasury for the most 
they could get for it. We have given these details, that 
our readers may see how the fathers and mothers, the 
brothers and sisters, of the olden time, were obliged to 
think, calculate, and act, in their pecuniary intercourse with 
their neighbors and public functionaries. Trading and 
shopping then were very different operations from what 
they are now. The word/^r;/ was used to denote whatever 
was employed as currency or medium of exchange. Sup- 
pose a farmer went to buy a pair of oxen, how would the 
colloquy proceed.'' Somewhat thus: Neighbor A.: "I 
want to buy your two-year-old steers : what do you ask for 
them .? " — "I will sell ; but what's ^'owxpayf " Answer : 
" Flax at IS. 4^., butter at I2d, winter wheat at 8s., and 
the rest in paper at lys. per ounce of silver." This is 
satisfactory, and so they trade. A dialogue between two 
merchants, in the purchase of a ship, would be something 
like this': Mr. S. : "What will you take for your bark 
' Columbus ' ? " Mr. T. : " You know that depends on the 
pay." Mr. S. : "My pay is, double-johns at £4. i6s., 
moidores at 36^-., pistoles at 22i-., the rest in old-tenor bills 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 38 1 

\ at the rate of 45^-. for 6s. of specie, and middle tenors at 
\ lis. Zd. for 6j." Mr. T. : " Well, that's all right ; and you 
I may have her for £,22)7, — P^y down." So the bargain 
, closes. When a boy went to buy a penknife, whose cash 
; price was \2d., the following conversation ensued : Boy : 
"I want a good penknife, sir." Shopkeeper: " Is your pay 
: ready .!* " — " Yes, sir." — " What is it .? " — " It's pay." — 
\ "Well, then, the price is 24^'." The boy then asks, "What 
\ will it be in fay as money .'' " Answer : " \6d." — " What 
; will it be in hard money.-' " — " I2d." If a young lady went 
■ to purchase a dress, and, having looked and chosen, she 
\ asked the price, she was answered by the usual question, 
; "What's your pay .-^ " She answers : " Part in pillar-pieces 
i at 6s. each, part in 'pieces-of-eight' at 4s. 6d., and the rest 
in cobb money at 6s. 8d. ounce." 

These were every-day occurrences. What would the 
[ farmers and merchants, the boys and girls, of our- day 
; think, if they could not make a purchase without all this 
bewildering mixture of prices .'' 

When dollars came into common use, all calculations 
were simplified. The sign ($) used to express dollars was 
composed of two letters, U S, signifying Uiiited States. 
The S was first written ; and then over its face the U was 
drawn, thus $. Our present currency consists of paper- 
bills of ;^i,ooo, ^500, $100, $50, $20, $\o, ^5, $2, $1. Gold, 
S40, $20, $10, $5, $3, $2>^, $1. Silver, ^i, 50c., 25c., loc, 
5c., 3c. Copper, one cent. 

We take leave of the currency of our ancestors, which 
prevailed in Medford, and which has taught us so much 
about them, with a few lines, in which some unknown 
disciple of Thalia has uttered his financial joy (1750) : — 

" And now, Old Tenor, fare you well ; 
No more such tattered rags we'll tell. 
Now dollars pass, and are made free ; 
It is a year of jubilee. 
Let us, therefore, good husbands be ; 
And good old times we soon shall see." 



382 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

MIDDLESEX CANAL. 

The Middlesex Canal, the first canal in New England, 
was an important public work in its day, and contributed 
much to the prosperity of this town. The citizens of 
Medford were among the first movers of the enterprise; 
and the canal rendered great service to shiji-building, 
which was at that time the prominent business interest of 
the town. 

In May, 1793, a meeting was held by a number of gentle- 
men, to arrange for the building and opening of a canal con- 
necting the waters of the Merrimac with Boston Harbor. 
There were present at this meeting, from Medford, the 
following named gentlemen : Benjamin Hall, Willis Hall, 
Ebenezer Hall, Jonathan Porter, Ebenezer Hall, jun., 
Andrew Hall, and Samuel Swan. After organizing by 
the choice of Benjamin Hall as chairman, and Samuel 
Swan as clerk, a committee was appointed to procure an 
Act of Incorporation from the Legislature. This charter 
was signed by John Hancock, Governor, June 22, 1793. 

For ten long and weary years the corporation struggled 
on, until 1803, when the canal was opened for navigation; 
and this, after one hundred assessments, amounting to 
$1,455.25, had been laid on each share, making the whole 
cost of the canal $1,164,200. The canal passed through 
the entire length of Medford, and had two locks within 
our borders ; one exactly on what is now Boston Avenue, 
and on the north-west side of the river, and the other near 
the entrance of Mystic Avenue from Main Street, This 
last was called a side-lock, and was used principally for 
transferring ship-timber from the canal to the river through 
what was called the " Little Canal." Boston Avenue, 
from High Street to Mystic River, is laid out upon the 
same grounds o\'er which the canal passed. Many now 
living, as they go in their carriages over these grounds, 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 383 

can remember the boats with merchandise, and the packets 
with passengers, as they were actively plying up and down 
the canal. 

The stone abutments now supporting the bridge over 
Boston Avenue were laid, in 1800, for the Middlesex 
Canal. At this point the locks were built to let down the 
boats to a lower level. The Medford boys of these days, 
as the writer can testify, greatly enjoyed getting on the 
boats above the locks, and being let down to the next 
grade. From the point where it crossed Mystic River in 
West Medford, the canal took a north-easterly course, just 
north of the " Chemical Works," crossing South Street, 
and thence following the line of what is now Summer 
Street to Main Street, jmssing between Winter Hill and 
Mystic Avenue to Charlestown Neck. 

The writer remembers, that, when he was a boy, the 
whole village was startled one morning by the news of a 
break in the banks of the canal in West Medford. It 
drained all the water in the canal between Woburn and 
Medford, and nearly filled the river with the gravel washed 
down the descent. The effects may be seen to this day 
between the bridge on Boston Avenue and the residence 
of Gilbert Lincoln. 

The business of the canal, previous to the opening of 
the Boston and Lowell Railroad, was quite large. In addi- 
tion to the freighting, there was a small packet drawn by 
two horses, which ran daily on the canal, and was, in its 
time and way, one of the most comfortable and enjoyable 
means of travelling the writer ever experienced. 

But the enterprise languished in competition with the 
speedier means of transportation afforded by the Lowell 
Railroad. In 185 1 the corporation voted to surrender its 
charter, and close its business, which was done in 1852. 
At this writing (1886), there are but few traces visible of 
the old Middlesex Canal. 

The solid stone arch bridge built by Peter C. Brooks, 
about one hundred rods north of the head of Boston 
Avenue, and over this canal, still stands a monument 
to mark its course. We hope it will always be allowed to 
remain. 

LIGHTERING. 

This name was applied to a freighting business, carried 
on extensively through Mystic River, between Medford 



384 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

and Boston. The craft generally used were sloops ranging 
from fifty to one hundred tons burden. They were intro- 
duced for the transportation of bricks, and afforded the 
only mode of transfer before Charlestown Bridge was built. 
Mystic River, to our fathers, was bridge, turnpike, and 
railroad. "When adventurers settle in a forest, it is the 
first wisdom to fix themselves near a river ; because a river 
is an easy highway, always kept in good repair, and free 
from all taxation. The business of lightering employed 
many men, and the inhabitants at first used these sloops 
as passenger-packets to Boston and Salem. So important 
had become this mode of conveyance for bricks, merchan- 
dise, and people, that, when a petition was started for per- 
mission to build Charlestown Bridge, Medford opposed it 
with unanimity and zeal, " because it would destroy the 
lightering business." The result was much as our citizens 
had foretold : brick soon began to be carried by oxen in 
carts, thus saving both the loading and unloading in the 
sloop, where many were necessarily broken. 

The labor of lightering was very hard ; for, at times, it 
became necessary for men to walk on the banks, and thus 
tow the sloop by means of long ropes. This toil was often 
undertaken in the night, and during stormy weather. 
Wood and bark were freighted from Maine, and rockweed 
from Boston Harbor. A business that was suspended 
during two or three months of each year, on account of 
ice, was not attractive to those who wished steady em- 
ployment, and was not likely therefore to secure the best 
laborers. 

MILLS. 

The building of a mill required more iron and stone 
work than our fathers in Medford were at first prepared 
to carry through : they therefore adopted the Indian's mill, 
which was a rock hollowed out in the shape of a half-globe, 
and a stone pestle. The mortar held half a bushel, and 
the pestle weighed forty or fifty pounds. A small, flexible 
tree was bent down, and the pestle so tied to its top as to 
keep it suspended immediately over the mortar. When 
the pestle was set in motion, the elastic spring of the tree 
would continue its blows on the grain for a minute or 
more. 

They found a mill driven by wind cheaper than one 
driven by water : nevertheless, the water-power here was 



'history of MED ford. 385 

sufficient, and so convenient that it soon became service- 
able. April 20, 1659, Thomas Broughton sold to Edward 
Collins, for six hundred and fifty pounds, "his two water-^ 
mills, which he built in Mistick River." They were theni 
occupied by Thomas Eames. 

There was a mill a short distance below the Wear 
Bridge ; but who built it, and how long it stood, we have 
not been able to discover. In 1660 Edward Collins con- 
veyed a "gristmill on the Menotomy side" to Thomas 
Danforth, Thomas Brooks, and Timothy Wheeler. This 
mill was previously occupied by Richard Cooke. 

There was a mill at the place now called the "Bower," 
about one mile north of the meeting-house of the First 
Parish, carried by the water of Marble Brook. The banks, 
race, canal, and cellar are yet traceable. This was used 
for grinding grain and sawing timber. It was on land now 
owned by Mr. Dudley Hall. 

The remains of another water-mill are still visible on 
land now owned by Mr. W. A. Russell, near the north- 
west border of the town. It was carried by the water of 
Whitmore Brook. This mill must have been among the 
earliest in Medford. 

The first action of the town respecting mills was May 
30, 1698, and the record reads thus : " Put to vote, whether 
the inhabitants of Medford will petition the General Court 
for liberty to build a gristmill on the river, near and above 
Mistick Bridge. Voted in the affirmative." This was 
not successful; nor was the following, — Nov. 26, 1700 :■ 
"Whether the town will petition the General Court for 
liberty to build a corn-mill in their town, at Gravelly Bank 
near Mistick Bridge. This was voted in the affirmative." 

When the circular stone windmill, now standing on 
Quarry Hill, in Somerville, was built, the inhabitants of 
Medford carried their grain there. Before the Revolution, 
the mill was converted into a powder-house, and was used 
as such. 

1730: Mr. John Albree built a mill upon his own land, 
on a branch of Marble Brook. It stood about six rods 
west of Purchase Street, where it joins the land of Mr. A. 
D. Puffer. The supply of water was small, as the present 
banks indicate. There Albree, and his only son Joseph, 
wove cloth by water, prepared wool for spinning, and had 
lathes for turning wood. His house of two stories, which 
he built, stood about six rods north-east from his mill. 



^86 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The mill stood more than forty years, and was once used 
for the manufacture of pomatum and starch. 

1746: This year the tide-mill, near Sandy Bank, was 
built ; and it was the first of the kind in that part of the 
town. As it is now standing, it may be worth while to 
state a few facts touching its origin. Articles of agree- 
ment were concluded, Feb. 20, 1746, between Richard 
Sprague, cooper; Samuel Page, yeoman ; Simon Tufts, Esq., 
physician; John Willis, yeoman; Stephen Hall, trader; 
Stephen Bradshaw, yeoman ; Simon Bradshaw, leather- 
dresser ; and Benjamin Parker, blacksmith, — on the one 
part, all of Medford, and owners of land ; and, on the 
other part, Stephen Hall, Samuel • Page, and Stephen 
Willis, of Medford, husbandmen, and Benjamin Parker, 
of Charlestown, housewright, as undertakers. They of 
the first part give the portions of land they own lying be- 
tween the market and Cross Street, on condition that they 
of :the second part will open a straight road, two rods 
wide, from the market to Cross Street, and build a stone 
bridge over Gravelly Creek, This was introductory to 
building the tide-mill. Benjamin Parker gave the land on 
which -the mill was built, — thirty-one feet long, and 
twenty-five wide. John Willis and Benjamin Parker gave 
liberty to the undertakers to cut a ditch from Gravelly 
Creek to the mill, and to build a dam. Dr. Tufts, John 
Willis, Samuel Page, Thomas Oakes, and Nathaniel Hall 
bind themselves never to obstruct the free flow of water 
to the mill. The undertakers then bind themselves "to 
erect a good gristmill on the spot of land above mentioned ; 
and said mill shall be ready to go at or before the last day 
of September next." As guaranty for each party, they 
" bind themselves in the penal sum of five hundred 
pounds." 

The mill was completed, and answered its purpose. It 
afterwards came into the possession of Timothy Waite, 
jun. He sold it to Seth Blodget, March 9, 1761. Mr. 
Blodget sold it to Matthew Bridge, Oct, 18, 1780. Mr. 
Bridge sold one-half of it to John Bishop, April 7, 1783; 
and sold the other half to John Bishop, jun., April 29, 
1784. John Bishop sold the whole to Gershom Cutter, 
who sold to Samuel Cutter, who sold to George T. Good- 
win, who sold to Joseph Manning, to whose heirs it now 
belongs. 

This mill has had various fortunes, and, by turns, has 



HISTORY OF aM ED FORD. 387 

done all sorts of work. Whether it has been most success- 
ful grinding grain or mustard-seeds or paints, or in sawing 
mahogany and turning wood, we know not. It has now 
had an existence of a hundred and forty years, and gives 
the promise of much good work in the future. 

May 10, 1766: It was again suggested "to build a grist- 
mill near the great bridge." But it was not done. 

May 12, 1791 : The town voted "not to allow any one 
to build a mill near the great bridge." 



TAVERNS. 

For more than a hundred years, all the land travel to 
Boston from Maine, from the eastern parts of New Hamp- 
shire and the north-eastern parts of Massachusetts, passed 
through Medford ; and its distance from Boston made it a 
convenient stopping-place for travelling traders. Hence 
the need of public houses. No town in the State, of its 
size, had so many in number or better in quality ; and 
they were all placed conveniently on the great thorough- 
fare. 

In early times no one could "keep tavern " without a 
special license from the court. The form was as follows : 
" Nathaniel Pierce, of Medford, is permitted to sell liquors 
unto such sober-minded neighbors as he shall think meet, 
so as he sell not less than the quantity of a gallon at a 
time to one person, and not in smaller quantities by retail 
to the occasioning of drunkenness." 

The first tavern of which we have any record was built 
by Major Jonathan Wade, about 1690, and kept by Na- 
thaniel Pierce. It sto«d a few rods south of the bridge, on 
the corner of Main and Union Streets, and for more than 
a century offered its accommodations to the public. It 
was bought by Colonel Royal, and had on its sign a repre- 
sentation of Admiral Vernon. Its owner wished to let it ; 
and his advertisement, dated Dec. 26, 1743, reads thus: 
" Any persons beforehanded, so as to lay in a good stock 
of liquors and other necessaries for a tavern, may meet 
with proper encouragement from Isaac Royal, Esq." 
Accompanying the above was this notice : " A person has 
a handsome mourning-coach, with a pair of good horses, to 
let out to any funeral, at ten shillings, old tenor, each 
funeral." This house acquired great popularity, espe- 
cially when kept by Roger Billings, in 1775. It was after- 



388 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

wards kept by Mr. James Tufts and son. It became a 
private dwelling about half a century ago, and so con- 
tinued till its destruction by fire, Nov. 21, 1850. 

The " Fountain House," next in order of time, was 
built as early as 1725, and yet stands, a comfortable resi- 
dence. Being well placed on the great thoroughfare 
between Salem and Boston, it had extensive patronage. 
It aimed to be a little suj^erior to other houses. Its sign 
represented two men shaking hands, who were called 
palaverers ; and hence the house first wore the name of 
Palaver Tavern. It was later called Fountain House, from 
having a new sign, representing a fountain pouring punch 
into a large bowl. The two large elm-trees in front had 
each a platform in its branches ; and these platforms were 
connected with each other and with the house by wooden 
bridges, and were used much in summer as places of 
resort for drinking punch and cordials. Tea-parties were 
sometimes gathered there. The last of these trees, well 
remembered by many, fell under the axe in 1879. It was 
of immense size, and the necessity of its destruction was 
much regretted by the public. But it had become honey- 
combed by decay, and its situation on the street rendered 
it dangerous to passers. 

The third tavern built in Medford stood on the west 
side of Main Street, about eight rods south of the bridge, 
and was the largest in town. It was built by Mr. Benjamin 
Parker, town-treasurer, as early as 1745 ; and was sold 
by him to Hezekiah Blanchard, who added a large dancing- 
hall to it, and called it " Union Hall." He left it to his 
son Hezekiah, who continued it a tavern till his death. 

The fourth tavern was at the foot of Rock Hill, now 
known as Marm Simond's Hill, at the West End, and 
sometimes called the Rock - Hill Tavern. Among its 
keepers were Messrs. " Usher, Wesson, Frost, and Put- 
nam." It was a favorite resort for teamsters, and gained 
great popularity. 

The new house, built by Mr, Jonathan Porter in the 
market-place, was opened as a tavern, but did not long 
continue as such. 

The " Medford House," standing on the north-east cor- 
ner of Main and South Streets, was built by Mr. Andrew 
Blanchard in 1804, and attained great popularity under its 
first keeper, Mr. Jaquith. It was furnished with four 
bowling-alleys, which proved too great a temptation to 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 389 

some. At a later period the house came into the posses- 
sion of a company of gentlemen who were resolved to 
have it kept on temperance principles. This plan proved 
more moral than profitable ; and it passed from the hands 
of the company into the possession of Augustus Baker, an 
Italian. 

It was on one occasion intimated to Baker that he 
watered his liquor too freely ; to which he replied, " More 
water, more conscience." He was succeeded by A. J. 
Emerson, followed by Peter Garvey. Under these land- 
lords, the Medford House has enjoyed a good reputation 
as an "hostelry," especially for the excellence of its table. 

The taverns of olden time were the places of resort for 
gentlemen ; and one consequence was, good suppers and 
deep drinking. They also performed the office of news- 
papers. In 1760 Medford passed the following vote : — 
"That their names, posted on the several tavern-doors, 
shall be a sufficient notice for jurors." Saturday afternoon 
was the time when men came from all quarters of the town 
to see and hear all they could at the tavern. For many 
years the favorite arena was at Mr. Blanchard's, where 
politics and theology, trade, barter, and taxes, were all 
mixed up together over hot flip and strong toddy. 

The taverns served also as places for marketing. Dur- 
ing most of the winter they were filled every night with 
farmers from Vermont and New Hampshire, who had 
brought their, pork, butter, grain, seeds, and poultry to 
market. Most families supplied themselves through these 
opportunities, and purchased the best articles at moderate 
prices. 

Landlords could not grow rich very fast on cojuitry 
custom. The travelling farmer brought all his food for 
himself in a box, and that for his horse in a bag. He 
therefore paid only twelve cents for his bed, and as much 
for horse-keeping. It was not uncommon to have six days' 
expenses amount only to two dollars ! 

Taverns seemed to subserve all purposes. Auctions, 
theatricals, legerdemain, caucuses, military drills, balls, 
and dancing-schools, all came in place at the tavern. Es- 
pecially sleigh-riding parties found them convenient. Med- 
ford was just about far enough from Boston to tempt a party 
to a ride on a pleasant moonlight evening. Scarcely one 
such evening passed without witnessing a gathering of 
young people, who brought with them their " fiddler," or 



390 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

engaged the services of Greenough, a noted colored fiddler 
of Medford, danced from seven to ten, and then took a 
hearty supper, and reached Boston at twelve. New forms 
of trade and amusement have almost wholly displaced 
these former custons. 

Medford was favored in its tavern-keepers ; but journey- 
ing in former days, one found queer specimens of humanity 
among this unique class. Generally, they were only varia- 
tions of Yankee Doodle. Some landlords were so full of 
sunshine that it was June all the year round : others had 
minds so frost-bitten that there was no hope for you, except 
in the January thaw. Here was one so anxious to oblige, 
that he would spring to throw a lasso round the moon, if 
you wished it ; and there another so cross, that putting a 
question to him was like squeezing a lemon. 

At the present time there are three hotels in ]\Iedford, 
though but little patronized by the public in the manner 
which gave life and prosperity to the inns of the olden 
time. These are Hawes's Hotel in the Square, the Mystic 
House near the trotting-park, and the Medford House on 
Main Street. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



391 



CHAPTER XIX. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 




.--*gg;'- 



First Church. Erected 1695. 



FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 

During the first years of their residence in Medford, 
our pious ancestors were not sufficiently numerous and 
rich to support a minister of the gospel ; hence they 
joined the churches of 
Cambridge, Charlestovvn, 
Watertown, Woburn, and 
Maiden. That they had 
preaching in the town at 
funerals and baptisms, is 
most probable ; but the 
loss of our earliest rec- 
ords prevents our stating 
any specific action on the 

subject till about 1690, when the desire to build a meet- 
ing-house became strong and effectual. They worshipped 
in private rooms ; and we find a vote of the town to "pay 
Thomas Willis thirty shillings for the use of his rooms 
for one year." 

Jan. 17, 1693, we find the following record : — 

"At a general town-meeting of the inhabitants of Medford, being 
fifteen days warned, voted that there shall be a meeting-house erected, 
to be finished the first of October following, on the land of Mr. Thomas 
Willis, near the gate by Marble Brook, on a rock on the north side of 
Woburn Road. It shall be seven and twenty feet long, four and twenty 
feet wide, and fifteen feet between joints." 

The committee to whom was intrusted this important 
work, "with full power to act therein," were Caleb Brooks 
and Thomas Willis, "to be joined by the selectmen, Joseph 
Hall and John Tufts." Owing to some obstacles, the house 
was not built at the time first specified ; and the next move- 
ment towards it we find in a vote passed Sept. 13, 1695. 



392 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

At this time "a subscription was opened, and one pound 
was subscribed by the following persons : Thomas Willis, 
Caleb Brooks, Stephen Francis, Stephen Willis, John Fran- 
cis, John Whitmore, John Bradshoe [Bradshaw], Jonathan 
Tufts, John Hall, jun., Nathaniel Hall, Stephen Hall, sen., 
John Willis, Stephen Hall, Percival Hall, Ebenezer Brooks. 
Twelve shillings were subscribed by Eleazer Wier and Na- 
thaniel Waite, and six shillings by Samuel Brooks." At 
this meeting, the town voted, unanimously, that "every 
person who refused to subscribe should pay twelve pence 
per head, and one penny on the pound, towards the build- 
ing of the meeting-house." 

Sept. 23, 1695, it was voted "to give sixty pounds for 
the erection and finishing of the house;" but on Nov. 4, 
1695, the town took a new step, as follows: "The inhab- 
itants, being now met and assembled, have voted and 
agreed to have a pulpit and deacons' seats made, and the 
body of seats and the walls plastered with lime." On ac- 
count of these additions to the house, they agreed to give 
eighty pounds. 

The meeting-house having been completed in May, 1696, 
five gentlemen — viz, Peter Tufts, John Hall, sen., Caleb 
Brooks, Stephen Francis, and Stephen Willis — were 
chosen "the committee to place the inhabitants in the 
meeting-house ; the selectmen first to place the commit- 
tee." 

The spot on which the first house stood is now occupied 
by a cottage, in West Medford, at the corner of High-street 
Court. This spot, consecrated by the prayers and worship 
of our ancestors, is about twenty rods east-north-east from 
the crotch of the two roads, — one leading to Woburn, the 
other to Arlington. 

The meeting-houses of this period were generally square, 
or nearly so. Some had spires, and were of two stories, 
with galleries. The one in Medford was nearly square, of 
one story, and without spire or galleries, but its windows 
secured with outside shutters. The roof was very steep, 
and the humble appearance of the house (twenty-seven by 
twenty-four) can be readily imagined ; and, if it had been 
made with walls unplastered, its cost probably would not 
have exceeded sixty pounds. Twelve shillings were annu- 
ally paid "for keeping the meeting-house." 

Instead of pulpits, many houses had tables, from which 
the sermon was preached, and around which certain pri\i- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 393 

leged persons, besides the deacons, were permitted, by a 
vote of the town,. to sit. 

The order of services was much like that now pre^-alent 
in Congregational churches, except that the Scriptures 
were not read, and there was no choir. The congregation 
sung, and the deacon's pitch-pipe was the only instrument- 
al music allowed. 

Baptisms were always administered in the meeting- 
house; and, if a child had been born on Sunday morning, 
it was thought a fit offering of piety to have it baptized in 
that afternoon. 

As pews were not tolerated at first, the town chose a 
committee "to seat the congregation." Although this 
committee was composed of the most judicious and popu- 
lar men, their decisions were not always satisfactory. The 
rules laid down for seating the people were passed Nov. 
30, 17 1 3, and are as follows : "The rule to be observed by 
said committee, in seating of persons in said meeting- 
house, is the quality of persons ; they who paid most for 
building the house, they who pay most for the minister's 
support, and the charges they have been at and now do 
pay to the public." In 1703, there was so much heart- 
burning at the placing of the people, that, in the true spirit 
of republican Congregationalism, they rebelled, and chose 
a new committee to do the work over again. 

The origin of pews seems to have been in a petition of 
Major Wade for liberty to build one. 

"May 25, 1696: Major Nathaniel Wade shall have lib- 
erty to build a pew in the meeting-house when he shall 
see reason to do so." Nothing appears in the record to 
explain this "liberty ;" and therefore we are left to set it 
down to our forefathers' charity, or submission to wealth, 
or traditional toleration of rank. As the major was the 
richest citizen, he had probably done most for the building 
of the house. But, although this liberty was granted to 
build ivJien he "saw reason," the town was nervously care- 
ful to define the form of his pew, and to fix its exact posi- 
tion. One vote, on another occasion, directed the commit- 
tee to see that " it should not go beyond the first bar of 
the window." 

A grant subsequently made to another gentleman was 
accompanied with this condition, that " he must take into 
his pew one or two persons, not belonging to his family, 
whom the town may name." 



394 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

March 6, 1699: Thomas Willis presented to the town, 
as a gift, a deed of the piece of land on which the meeting- 
house was standing. 

On the same day the town voted "to build a fore-gal- 
lery in the meeting-house, with three seats ; said seats to 
be parted in the middle, one-half to be used by the men, 
and the other by the women." This custom of making the 
gallery-seats free, and of confining those on one side to 
the use of males, and the others to the use of females, 
continued in Medford until our day. 

This "fore-gallery" became a cause of conflict between 
the two sexes. By the vote of 1699, the "women" were 
to occupy one side, and the " men " the other. Of course 
this just decision satisfied the gentler sex; and they en- 
joyed the boon till Jan. 31, 1701, when the town voted 
that men only should sit in ihe front gallery of the meeting- 
house ! This unexplained outrage on female rights roused 
into ominous activity certain lively members, whose indig- 
nant eloquence procured the call of another town-meeting 
within five weeks, when it was voted to reconsider the 
decision of the 31st of January, and thus put the matter 
statn^ quo ante belluni. 

At the same meeting, Lieut. Peter Tufts, Ebenezer 
Brooks, and Stephen Willis, had leave granted them to 
build each a pew. This vote was strangely modified, with 
respect to one of these gentlemen, on the 3d of January, 
1715 : "Voted that the town will grant Mr. Ebenezer 
Brooks a pew in the part of their meeting-house joining to 
the minister's pew, and liberty to make a door into said 
pew on the outside of said meeting-house.'' 

July 28, 1702 : "Voted to give Ensign John Bradshaw 
fifteen shillings for sweeping the meeting-house one year, 
cleaning the snow away from the front-door, and shutting 
the casements." 

Nov. 25, 1712 : The town, for the first time, granted 
permission to one of their number to build a shed for his 
horse. 

SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 

A new house was first proposed May 28, 1716, because 
the enlargement of the old would cost nearly as much as 
the building of a new one. The committee reported that 
its size should be " fifty feet long, thirty-eight broad, and 
twenty-seven feet stud." It was to have diamond-shaped 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



395 




Second Church. Erected 1727. 



glass, and window-shutters, and was to cost four hundred 
and fifty pounds. In 17 19 the subject again came up for 
more decisive action ; and, on Feb. 9 of that year, they 
put the question in this form : " Put to vote, whether the 
town will build a new 
meeting-house forthwith. 
Voted in the negative." 

A movement so full of 
interest to every family 
would naturally bring 
out some diversity of 
opinion in a widely scat- 
tered population. In 
order, therefore, to se- 
cure harmony in the 
best plan, they were 
willing to accede to 
what judicious and dis- 
interested men might 
say was best. Accord- 
ingly, March 7, 1720, in a full town-meeting, they put the 
question thus : — 

" Whether the town will choose a committee of five gentlemen, 
from some of our neighboring towns, to give their advice, whether 
it will be most convenient for the town, at present, to build a new 
meeting-house, or to enlarge the old. And, in case said committee 
do advise to build a new meeting-house, then said committee to state 
a place as near the centre of the town as can be, which shall best 
accommodate the whole town for setting of said house." 

This was "voted in the affirmative," and the meeting 
was then adjourned one week to March 14; but the time 
was too short for so much business. When, however, the 
meeting of the 14th took place, the town passed a vote 
supplementary to that of the 7th inst. ; and in these words 
are the records : — 

" At said meeting, put to vote, whether the town will abide by, 
and rest satisfied with, the advice and determination of the above- 
said committee, which shall be according to the vote above written, 
referring to building a new meeting-house or enlarging of the old, and 
also as to stating a place for said house. Voted in the affirmative." 

This vote was passed after the town had chosen the 
committee, and had probably learned something of their 
views. The committee make their report ; whereupon the 
town, Feb, 20, 1721, after nearly a year's delay and 



396 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

various indefinite activities, come to the question of this 
report of the committee. The record is as follows : — 

" Put to vote, whether the town doth accept o£ the result of the 
committee, referring to a meeting-house in Medford, as a perfect 
result according to the votes of said town. Voted in the 7icgative.''^ 

It does not appear what were the grounds of objection 
to the result of the committee ; but the vote above of 
P'eb. 20 drew forth the following protest from the West- 
Enders : — 

"We, the subscribers, do enter our dissent against the town's pro- 
ceedings in the above written vote (of the 20th of February;, for the 
following reasons : to wit, — 

" I. That at a meeting legally convened, March 14, 1720. the town 
did make choice of a committee of five gentlemen, to advise and 
dcteriiiine the affair of the meeting-house in said town, as may at 
large appear by said votes referring thereto; and did also bind thetn- 
selves, by a vote, to abide by, and rest satisfied with, the advice and 
determination of said committee. 

" 2. The gentlemen chosen by the town as a committee, being met 
at Medford, April 2, 1720, alter consultation upon said affair, drew up 
a result, under all their hands, and publicly read and declared the 
same to the town, or those of them then present. 

"3. That said committee, by their result, did oblige the inhabitants 
of the West End of the town to procure the land for erecting a new 
meeting-house upon, at their own cost and charge ; and also to 
remove all incumbrances, as expressed in said result. 

'' That we, the subscribers, have, in obedience to said result, pro- 
cured the land and removed the incumbrances, as above said, at our 
own cost and charge ; and, for these and the like reasons, we enter 
against said vote as being illegal and unjust. 

"John P^rancis. 
Samuel Francis. 
Thomas Willis. 



" John Whitmoke. 
Caleb Brooks. 
Nathaniel Francis. 
John Winship. 
William Willis. 
Stephen Hall. 
Jonathan Hall. 
Stephen Willis. 
Oliver Attwood. 
Abner Harris. 



John Whitmore. 
John Francis. 
Ebenezer Brooks. 
Francis Whitmore. 
Samuel Brooks. 
William Pottony. 
Thomas Hall." 



As this subject created local or territorial interests, it 
was prudently thought best not to force any measure 
relating to it. More than a year elapsed before any deci- 
sive action was taken. July 19, 1722, voted "to build a 
meeting-house according to the advice and determination 
of the honored committee chosen and empowered by the 
town to state that affair, and in the same place which said 
committee stated and ordered in the result." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



397 



This vote immediately called forth a protest from the 
East-Enders, in the following words : — 

" We, the subscribers, do enter our dissent against the vote above- 
said, referring to the building of a new meeting-house, for the reasons 
following: to wit, first, it is wholly contrary to the warrant granted 
for said meeting ; and also, it being contrary to a former vote of the 
town. 



'John Bradshaw, \ seiect- 
Thomas Tufts, j 'w- 
John Willis. 
John Richardson. 
Benjamin Willis. 
Benjamin Parker. 
John Bradshaw, Jun. 



" Nathaniel Hall. 
John Grattan. 
Jonathan Bradshaw. 
Peter Seccombe. 
John Hall. 
Thomas Willis. 
Peter Tufts.'' 



belonging to John 
afterwards rejected. 



This difference of opinion, running longitudinally east 
and west, destroyed not the harmony of the town in other 
things, but served only to postpone action, to wait the 
leadings of Providence. More than two years elapsed 
before we find the following vote : " To place the new 
meeting-house either on the north or south side of the 
county road, on a piece of land 
Bradshaw, jun." This spot was 

More unanimity began now to prevail in this matter, and 
a committee was chosen whose wisdom and impartiality 
harmonized every thing. The spot selected was on the 
south side of the county road, near " Marble Brook," four 
or five rods south-east of the bridge now across that 
stream, which afterwards took the name of " Meeting- 
house Brook," and retains it to this day. The land was 
owned by Mr. John Albree ; and on the loth of January, 
1726, the town voted to give fifty-five pounds for one acre, 
and to appropriate three hundred and sixty pounds for the 
building of the house. The committee appointed to de- 
termine the size and shape of the house were " Thomas 
Tufts, Esq., Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Mr. Peter Sec- 
combe, Mr. John Richardson, Captain Samuel Brooks, 
Mr. John Willis, Mr. William Willis, Lieutenant Stephen 
Hall, Mr. John Francis, Mr. Benjamin Parker, and Mr. 
John Whitmore." They reported that "it would be 
proper for this town to build a meeting-house fifty-two 
teet large, thirty-eight feet wide, and thirty-three feet 
posts." This report was accepted, and the same com- 
mittee empowered to build the house. 

Every thing now went on harmoniously ; and we can 
easily imagine the appearance of the new house, — more 



398 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

than twice as high as its predecessor, and about twice as 
large. The steeple, rising from the centre of the four- 
faced roof, gave to the structure an appearance like that 
of the old meeting-house now standing in Hingham, Mass., 
which was built in i68o. Some of us remember the old 
meeting-house in Lynn, built about the same time, after 
the same model. 

Aug. 24, 1727: "Voted to meet, in the new meeting- 
house sabbath-day after next." Accordingly, on Sunday, 
Sept. 3, 1727, the inhabitants of Medford met for the first 
time in their new house ; and Rev. Mr. Turell preached 
an appropriate sermon from Ps. Ixxxiv. i : " How amia- 
ble are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! " Any special 
dedicatory services would have been distasteful to the 
people of that day. 

Our Puritan forefathers having procured their second 
house for public worship, of a size commensurate with 
their numbers, and at a cost proportionate to their wealth, 
their first care was for their pastor's family ; and they 
passed the following vote : " That the town will build a 
ministerial pew in the meeting-house, in the place where 
the Rev. Mr. Turell shall choose." 

As no pews were built, the people were to sit on long, 
uncushioned seats, wherever the "seating committee" 
should designate. This custom became less and less 
agreeable ; and, by degrees, the just, pacific, and conven- 
ient fashion of separated pews crept in. Various expedi- 
ents were devised, and many of them abandoned ; but, Oct. 
23, 1727, it was voted "that certain lots for pews should 
be sold, but that each person must build his pew at 
his own cost ; and, if he moved out of town, his pew 
became the town's, the town paying therefor." Subse- 
quently it was voted to build twenty-seven pews, and then 
let the committee determine ivJio should have a right to 
build. The requisites were age, dignity, parentage, use- 
fulness, and the charges which persons had paid to the 
town and to the meeting-house. Here was a wide door 
open for jealousy and discontent. The next year, 1728, 
the committee determine " to build twenty-eight pews," 
to be placed next the wall, all round the house. Each 
pew had its price assessed by the committee, and, when 
paid for, was guaranteed to its owner as regular real estate. 
Some had no doors, and therefore must be entered through 
a contiguous pew ! The right of choice was now given to 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 399 

twenty-five gentlemen ; and here follows the eventful cata- 
logue in the order fixed according to the supposed social 
rank of each : — 

"Mr. John Francis, sen., Mr. John Bradshaw, Capt. Ebenezer 
Brooks, Capt. Samuel Brooks, Lieut. Stephen Hall, Mr. Peter Sec- 
combe, Thomas Tufts, Esq., Capt. Samuel Wade, Francis Whitmore, 
John Willis, Mr. John Whitmore, Mr. John Richardson, William 
Willis, Mr. Jonathan Hall, Mr. Peter Tufts, Deacon Thomas Hall, 
Mr. Benjamin Willis, Mr. Benjamin Porter, Mr. Thomas Oaks, Dr. 
Simon Tufts, Mr. John Albree, Mr. Joseph Tufts, Mr. William Patten, 
Mr. John Bradshaw, jun., and Mr. John Hall." 

The price of these pews varied from twelve to eight 
pounds. 

1729: Voted "to petition the General Court for some 
relief under present differences and difficulties." The 
town appoints " Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Mr. Peter Sec- 
combe, Mr. William Patten, and Jonathan Tomson, as a 
committee to lay the case before the committee of the 
House of Representatives." A committee of four (Hodi- 
jah Savage, Thomas Berry, Joseph Wilder, and William 
Ward) met at Medford, when all things were explained 
concerning the discontent and disputes about certain pews 
in the new meeting-house. The award was drawn up in 
form, and was final, and it placed three or four persons 
anew. 

June 26, 1740 : The town voted to place a bell on the 
meeting-house ; but, as it was decided to purchase the bell 
with money which should be raised from the sale of bricks 
owned by the town, the bell was not bought, because the 
bricks were not sold. However, this appendage to a 
meeting-house, so necessary in those days, when watches 
were not as plenty as they are now, was furnished in 1744 
by certain liberal gentlemen of the town ; and five pounds 
was paid for ringing it a year. 

Jan. 15,1733: Voted "to repair the steeple of the meeting-house, to 
put a pulley on the front door, and make a convenient horse-block." 

July 23, (736: "Voted that John Bradshaw, jun., should have lib- 
erty to cut a door-place and make a door at the south end of the 
meeting-house into his pew." 

So near to " Marble Brook " was this house placed, that 
on the 3d of December, 1745, the town voted to take all 
necessary measures "to prevent the water of the brook 
from washing away the earth near the north-west corner 
of the meeting-house." 



400 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



How significant of character are these little details of 
town legislation, sectional jealousies, mutual concessions, 
and hereditary rank ! 

This second meeting-house was in use forty-three years ; 
during which time there were five thousand one hundred 
and thirty-four sermons preached, and one thousand two 
hundred and eighteen persons baptized in it. The farewell 
service was March 4, 1770. 

The house was sold at auction, to John Laithe, for £,2\ 
(O.T.) ; its underpinning to Benjamin Hall, for ;^ 13. 6s. 
8d. The land sold for ^197 (O.T.) ; the old schoolhouse 
upon it, for ;C2>^. 

THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 

The increase and prosperity of the town called for a 
new meeting-house ; but the trying question was, Where 
shall it be placed ? As the majority of the inhabitants 
were east of the old meeting-house, it was but right to 

place the new one nearer 
the centre of population. 
In 1768 it was proposed 
to build it "between the 
Meeting-house Brook, so 
called, and the widow 
Mary Greenleaf's." This 
was abandoned. April 4 
of the same year, it was 
voted by the town thus : 
"When the town builds a 
meeting-house, they will 
build said house upon the 
widow Watson's orchard, 
before her dwelling-house, 
jDrovided said land can be 
procured on reasonable 
terms." This proposition was no more successful than 
the last. Aug. 22, 1768: "Voted to build a meeting- 
house on land bought of Mr. John Bishop ; the house to 
be of the following dimensions : sixty-six feet long, forty- 
six feet wide, with forty-eight pews on the floor, and eight 
in the gallery; wit/i a toiver from the ground, without a 
spire ; two porches ; doors and windows to be painted three 
times ; leads and pulleys in the windows. The whole cost 
not to exceed p^933. 6s. Sd." This plan was adopted, and 




Third Church. Erected 1770. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 401 

the house built on the spot now occupied by the meeting-- 
house of the First Church. Another important vote was. 
passed, providing that a subscription should be opened, and' 
the citizen who subscribed the most towards building the 
house should have his first choice of a pew ; and so the 
rest, in the order of their relative sums. Forty-five gen- 
tlemen subscribed. March 13, 1769, voted to have a 
spire, whose cost should "not exceed j[,66. i^s. ^d." May 
15, 1769, voted "that there may be conducting-rods put 
upon the steeple, if they cost the town nothing." Price: 
of labor at this time, for a man, 3^-. 6d. per day ; for man. 
and team, 6s. Sd. 

By the usual courtesy, the pastor took the first choice, 
and selected a pew, which thereupon became the " minis- 
ter's pew," owned by the town. 

It is specially recorded, that at "the raising" of this- 
meeting-house, which took place July 26 and 27, 1769, 
"there was no one hurt." That such an exemption was. 
remarkable, at that period, may be e:xplained by the fact 
that probably our fathers did not put themselves into that 
condition which generally secures catastrophes. An au- 
thentic record from another town, under date of Sept. 13, 
1773, may make this matter clear: "Voted to provide one 
barrel of West-India rum, five barrels of New-England 
rum, one barrel of good brown sugar, half a box of good 
lemons, and two loaves of loaf ^Vi^ds, for framing and rais- 
ing the viccting-houscy Here a natural consequence fol- 
lowed, — two-thirds of the frame fell: many were hurt, 
and some fatally. 

Thus our fathers procured for themselves their third 
temple of worship, placed near the centre of population, 
upon a commanding spot, and exhibiting a most respect- 
able exterior, with a commodious and appropriate interior. 
It is agreeable to one's mind to contrast the three forms, 
of meeting-houses which obtained in New England up to. 
this time. The first was a one-story, square building, in 
naked and uncheerful simplicity, with straw-thatched roof; 
lighted, not by glass windows, but by the opening of out- 
side shutters ; and had within neither pews nor pulpit. 
The second was two stories high ; had diamond-glass win- 
dows ; a four-sided, sloping roof, of wood, with a turret in 
its centre for a bell, and sometimes a portico in front ; 
and, within, a gallery, some pews, a deacons' seat, and a 
pulpit. The third was two stories high, had window- 



402 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

sashes and square glass, a two-sided roof, with a tower 
from the ground, and three porches ; while its interior 
showed galleries round three sides, in which, fronting the 
pulpit, were seats for twenty-five or fifty singers ; and, on 
the lower fioor, wall-pews, three inches higher than the 
rest ; two free seats, nearest the pulpit, for deaf old men 
and women ; a deacons' seat, in front of the pulpit ; and 
the sacred desk not at the end, as is now the fashion, but 
in the centre of one of the longest sides of the house, its 
top from eight to ten feet above the floor, and over it 
fastened a "sounding-board." The sexton, up to this time, 
had his post of honor near the preacher ; and his duty 
was to attend to any wants of the officiating clergyman, 
and also to turn the hour-glass when its sands had run out. 
This last operation was doubtless to inform the congre- 
gation Jiow jnuch instruction they had received, and to 
prophesy of the remainder. It is not difficult to imagine 
the appearance of a congregation in 1650, — the men on 
one side, and the women on the other, sitting on wooden 
benches, in January, under a thatched roof, with one or 
two open window-places, without stoves, singing Sternhold 
and Hopkins and the New-England Psalms, and then 
listening to a two-hours' service with devotion ! 

On Sunday, March 11, 1770, our fathers and mothers, 
with their entire families, entered, for the first time, their 
new meeting-house. Unfortunately, their beloved pastor 
was ill ; and the services of the day were performed by 
Mr. Andrew Elliot, jun., a tutor in Harvard College. The 
celebrated George Whitefield preached a dedicatory dis- 
course in this house, Aug. 26, 1770, from 2 Chron. v. 14. 
Our fathers had no special services for the dedication of 
a new house of worship, because they could not tolerate 
any imitation of the English Church ; and we have always 
had to regret their further indiscretion in banishing, for 
the same poor reason, the sacred observance of Christmas 
and Good F'riday. 

June II, 1770: "Voted not to grant seats for singers." 

July 28, 1771, Sunday: On this day was used, for the 
. first time, the new pulpit-cushion given by William Pep- 
perell, Esq., who imported it from England, at a cost of 
eleven guineas. 

March 5, 1787: Some inhabitants of taste and public 
spirit proposed to plant ornamental trees in front of the 
meeting-house. The town voted not to have them ! 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 403 

May 10, 1802 : Voted to buy a new bell. 

Oct. 5, 1812 : Voted not to have a stove in the meeting- 
house ! 

Nov. 12, 1814: Voted that the following memorandum 
be recorded by the town-clerk : — 

" Be it remembered, that this year the Rev. Dr. Osgood's 
pulpit was painted and furnished with curtains, cushions, 
trimmings, etc., by a number of ladies belonging to his 
church and congregation ; who, by contribution among 
themselves, raised the sum of one hundred and fifty dol- 
lars, which they expended in this pious work, under the 
superintendence of three of their number; which is or- 
dered by the town to be placed upon its records, to the 
end, that, whenever they shall be examined hereafter, this 
also that these women have done shall be read for a me- 
morial of them." 

Voted, That the thanks of the parish be presented to 
the Hon. Peter C. Brooks for an elegant edition of the 
Bible, in two volumes folio, presented by him for the use 
of the pulpit. 

SCHOOLHOUSES. 

Where the first schoolhouse stood, is not known ; but it 
was probably near the meeting-house, at the West End. 

The second was built according to the followins: order 
of the town, Oct. 5, 1730 : "Voted to build a new school- 
house, twenty-four feet long, twenty feet wide, and ten 
feet stud, on town's land, by the meeting-house." It was 
near Marble Brook, on the north-west corner of the lot, 
upon the border of the road. 

The third schoolhouse stood very near the street, on 
land formerly owned by Samuel Train, Esq., and now by 
Gen. Samuel C. Lawrence, opposite the Episcopal Church. 

The fourth schoolhouse stood as ordered by the follow- 
ing vote, March 11., 1771 : "Voted to build the schoolhouse 
upon the land behind the meeting-house, on the north-west 
corner of the land." This spot is three or four rods north- 
west of the present meeting-house of the First Parish. 
The building-committee were: "Benjamin Hall, Capt. 
Thomas Brooks, and Mr. Willis Hall." 

These houses, above noticed, were of wood ; but the town, 
June 6, 1795, voted to build a brick schoolhouse behind the 
meeting-house. They agreed to give William Woodbridge 
two hundred and twenty pounds, and the old schoolhouse, 



404 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

to build it. This was the fifth house built by the town. 
It consisted of one large room, sufficient for sixty or 
seventy pupils : it was arranged after the newest models, 
and furnished with green blinds, hung at their tops. The 
arrangement within was simple. The master's desk was 
on a raised platform, in one corner. Undivided seats ran 
lengthwise through the whole extent of the room. The 
oldest pupils sat with their backs to the windows, and 
their desks before them. The younger pupils sat below 
them, with their backs against the desks of their seniors, 
and their own desks before them. The smallest children 
sat below these last, leaning their backs against the desks 
of their seniors, but having no desks before them. The 
above arrangement was followed on both sides of the 
room. Thus the three rows of boys on the north side 
faced the three rows of girls on the south. The area be- 
tween the two was about six feet wide, where the classes 
were marshalled to read and spell. 

March 7, 1807: The town voted to enlarge the school- 
house. After this was done, the girls and boys were taught 
in separate apartments. 

This school house was occupied from 1795 to 1848, when 
its mission was ended, as the following vote will show: — 

"March 13, 1848: Voted, That the selectmen be in- 
structed to remove the brick schoolhouse in the rear of 
the First (Unitarian) Church from the land owned by that 
parish." 

There had been much contention between the town and 
the parish, in regard to the ownership of this land ; but it 
was finally settled that the parish succeeded to all the 
rights the town had enjoyed while there was but one 
parish within its limits. 

The writer well remembers this old schoolhouse, as it 
was where he spent his early school-days. His master was 
Mr. Luther Angier, who was long a citizen of this town, 
and died here Sept. 4, 1881. He occupied many impor- 
tant positions in the town, and in his services was always 
acceptable. He was a true gentleman, an instructor apt 
to teach, and by his kindness won the respect and confi- 
dence of his pupils. The accompanying illustration will 
show the schoolhouse as it originally appeared. 

Other school edifices of later origin have also been 
outgrown and abandoned. 

That erected on the Woburn road 1829, and removed 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



405 



to High Street 183 1, was blown down by the tornado 
of 185 1. 

The Cross-street structure was not used as a school- 
house after 1852. 

The house erected on Union Street, 1835, and shared 
for several years with the fire-department, was abandoned, 




High School House. 



1867, an<i) being removed by its purchaser to Summer 
Street, is now devoted to other uses. 

1867: The schools were removed from the edifice 
erected, 1851, on the corner of Brooks and Irving Streets ; 
and the structure has since become a dwelling-house. 

In the spring of 1855 the old Park-street schoolhouse, 
built in 1837, was consumed by fire; and the Swan was 
erected upon the same premises. 

The following table records certain facts concerning the 
houses now used by the schools : — 



4o6 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



Name. 


When 
Built. 


Building Committee. 


Builders. 


Cost. 


High 


1843 


( 0. Joyce, ) 
< D. Lawrence, \ 
(J. Curtis. ' 
f Henry A. Page, "1 
A. H. Butters, 1 


William B. Thomas, 
Charles Caldwell. 


$7,S68 


High (remodelled) 


1866 


J A. N. Cotton, 1 
■ John P. Perry, { 

N. T. Merritt,_ 
L Charles Cummings. J 
( George T. Goodwin, ) 


William B. Thomas. 


21,05s 


Osgood 


1851 


] M. E. Knox, \ 
( Henry Taylor. ) 


Beaty & Bradlec. 


3,375 














( Robert L. Ells, ) 






Everett 


1852 


< Samuel Joyce, > 
( Henry Taylor. ) 
( C. S. Jacobs, ) 


James Peirce. 


7,166 


Swan (rebuilt) . . . 


1855 


\ Franklin Patch, \ 
( Judah Loring. ) 


David K. Miller. 


7,099 


Cradock 


,857 


1 Peter C. Hall, j 
i Benjamin H. Samson, J 


Charles S. Jacobs. 


6,434 


James 


1 866 


The School Committee, 
f Luther Farwell, ] 
j N. T. Merritt, \ 
\ A. F. Badger, f 
t N. W. Bridge. J 


J. H. Norton. 


6,280 


Brooks 


1867 


J. H. Norton. 


22,311 














( Daniel A. Gleason, ) 






Tufts 


1S68 


D. W. Lawrence, \ 
i Luther T. Seaver. ) 
( George W, Gardner, 1 


J. H. Norton. 


5,184 


Curtis 


1876 


] Daniel Hill, [ 
( James Hedenberg. ) 
( James A. Hervey, ) 


William B. Thomas. 


5,389 


Cummings .... 


1878 


I John H. Hooper, > 
' Benjamin C. Leonard. ) 
(J. A. Hervey, ) 


J. H. Archibald. 


5,996 


Hall 


1879 


\ J. H. Hooper, } 
( B. C. Leonard. ) 


James Peirce. 


6,000 











The Osgood and Curtis houses, erected on Salem Street, 
— one near Park Street, and the other near Maiden line, — 
were removed to their present locations, the Curtis to 
Parish Street in 1879, and the Osgood to Wellington in 
1883. 

TOWN-HALL. 

The question concerning the right of the town to use 
the meeting-house of the First Parish for town-meetings 
having been settled, the inhabitants began to devise meas- 
ures for building a town-house, and the subject came up 
for consideration, Dec. 6, 1827; but no definite action was 
had. It engaged attention at subsequent meetings ; but 
nothing final occurred till March 4, 1833, when a commit- 
tee recommended the building of a town-house, whose 
dimensions should be " sixty-five feet long, forty wide, and 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



407 



cighteen-fcet posts." This report was accepted ; and the 
land on which the building now stands, on the north-east 
corner of Main and High Streets, was purchased of the 
heirs of Mr. Samuel Buel for $3,000. The plan of 
the building was drawn by Mr. Benjamin of Boston. The 
length was extended to seventy feet. The cost of land 
and building was $10,062.25. The building-committee 







iii!d1'itoaV'\''> yy 4^ !^ . ,q ttlni'iSrH ' 



'"■ ':■• ' ^ ^..■,V/>..n<. ..v..j.. 



Brooks School House. 



were Messrs. John P. Clisby, John Sparrell, and Thomas 
R. Peck. 

Oct. 27, 1839, Saturday night, it was partly destroyed 
by fire. Nov. 25 the town voted to rebuild on the original 
model. The insurance of $5,000 was used to pay for the 
repairs, and nearly covered the whole amount, which was 
$5,389.89. The south end was built of brick, and the 
house made thirteen feet longer than at first. It was 
again insured, at the same office, for $5,000. The build- 
ing-committee were Messrs. Darius Waite, Milton James, 
and John P. Clisby. 

Oct. 18, 1850, Saturday night, it was again burned in 
part. The town voted to rebuild; and, having received 



408 HISTOID y OF MEDFORD. 

from the insurance-office $4,580, this money was used for 
payment. The building-committee were Messrs. Daniel 
Lawrence, George T. Goodwin, and Charles S. Jacobs; 
the master-builder, Mr. Charles Caldwell. The cost of 
rebuilding was $5,941.26. Its dimensions now are ninety- 
two feet ridge, eighty-three feet body, and forty feet width. 
The first story is occupied by the selectmen, the assessors, 
the town clerk and treasurer, collector of taxes, the water- 
board, and the police-department. The hall covers the 
entire second story. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 409 



CHAPTER XX. 

TRADE AND MANUFACTURES. 

Medford having for its friend the richest merchant 
belonging to the " Company " of the Massachusetts Plan- 
tation, its trade was at first considerable. 

Oct. 16, 1629: The General Court ordered "that the 
company's joint stock shall have the trade of beaver and 
all other furs in those parts, solely, for the term of seven 
years from this day." 

May 18, 1631 : "It is ordered that every plantation 
within the limits of this patent shall, before the last day 
of June next, provide common weights and measures, 
which shall be made by some which the governor hath 
already sealed, and by which also all others that will have 
weights and measures of their own are to be made." 

1635 : Voted that beaver-skins shall pass for ten shil- 
lings per pound. 

Sept. 6, 1638 : Mr. Cradock's accounts were audited in 
Boston. 

Mr. Cradock's large outlay here, for all the accommo- 
dations requisite in building schooners and carrying on 
an extensive fishing-business, made this region a trading- 
centre. This first state of things continued till the with- 
drawal of Mr. Cradock's property, a few years after his 
death. The fishing-business had been unsuccessful, and 
no one would continue it. The second period of trade in 
Medford reached (to speak in round numbers) from 1650 
to 1750, during which time the manufacture of bricks was 
the most important and lucrative business pursued in the 
town. Other branches gradually increased. 

1650 to 1700, there were no newspapers, no scientific 
lectures, no bank, no insurance companies, no post-office, 
no stage-coaches, no good roads. Must not trade have 
been small t 

The third period extended from 1750 to 1805. It began 



410 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

to be understood that Medford could furnish the staple 
articles of iron, steel, lead, salt, molasses, sugar, tea, cod- 
fish, chocolate, guns, powder, rum, etc., to country traders 
at a less price than they could get them at Boston, The 
distilling business and the manufacture of bricks required 
many lighters to go loaded to Boston : returning, they 
could bring back iron, steel, etc., at small cost. Medford, 
therefore, by its river, became quite a centre of supply 
to country traders from New Hampshire and Vermont. 
Supply begets market, as market begets supply. Traders 
here could purchase ivory-handled knives, spring-locks, 
brass-ware, tin, and pewter ; of groceries, every thing but 
good tea and coffee; of dry goods, Kent linen, cotton, Irish 
stockings, Turkey mohair, red serge, broadcloth, muffs, 
ribbons, lace, silks, combs, napkins, yellow taffety, thread- 
lace, gloves, etc. Barter was the most common form of 
trade ; and the exchanges were made with less care and 
exactitude than marks business transactions at the present 
date. 

Pitch, tar, and turpentine were brought from the interior 
at an early date; but, in 1755, it became an active busi- 
ness. Casks for them were made in Medford ; and the 
vote of the town required that each cask should be exam- 
ined by a committee, and, if well made, then marked with 
a double M. Coopering now became an extensive and 
profitable branch of business. It was begun, before the 
Revolution, by the agency of Mr. Benjamin Hall. Charles 
Henley of Boston was his foreman, and superintended it 
till 1802. Andrew Blanchard, Joseph Pierce, and James 
Kidder were apprentices in Mr. Hall's establishment. 

Mr. Benjamin Hall was among the first and the most 
active of the Medford merchants. He not only carried on 
the distilling business, but had a large store for wholesale 
barter. It was not uncommon for him to receive a hun- 
dred barrels of pearlashes per day, and five hundred tierces 
of flax-seed per year. He also carried on the "beef busi- 
ness," having seven hundred head of cattle slaughtered 
each year. Mr. Ebenezer Hall had an equal number 
slaughtered, and they made all their tallow into candles. 
The drovers were glad to take their pay in sugar, molasses, 
iron, tea, rum, etc. 

How different this from the course of trade in England, 
where a man was forbidden by law to carry on two me- 
chanic trades or different pursuits ! A tanner could not 



HISTORY OF iM ED FORD. 41 1 

be a shoemaker. These monopolies and legal restrictions 
had no place in New England, and their absence was a 
prime cause of our great prosperity. It made every free 
man a free trader. The British Parliament tried to put on 
the handcuffs of restriction, but the colonists would not 
wear them. Gallatin says, " No cause has contributed 
more to the prosperity of this country than the absence 
of those systems of internal restriction and monopoly 
which continue to disfigure other countries." 

Mr, Jonathan Porter came to Medford in 1773. He 
opened a store of English goods previous to the Revolu- 
tion, and gradually enlarged his business till he sold all 
the heavier articles of inland commerce. There are those 
now living who remember when from twenty to thirty 
"country pungs " were gathered about the doors of these 
Medford traders, discharging and taking in their loads. 
These pungs were drawn by two horses each, and started 
as far north as Montpelier, Vt., and Lancaster, N.H. 
With three large distilleries in full action, and many sloops 
and schooners navigating the river, Medford became one 
of the most active and thriving towns in the Common- 
wealth. Distillation was esteemed not only lawful and 
right, but a highly respectable business. With rapid 
strides, Medford rose in wealth and increased in numbers; 
and in 1805 there were many stores opened, where the 
necessaries and conveniences and even the ornaments 
and luxuries of life could be obtained at as cheap a rate 
as in Boston. 

The increase of business, and the gathering of traders 
in the market-place, became so great at the beginning of 
the century, that it was deemed advisable to appoint a 
clerk of the market. The first clerk was elected March 2, 
1801. 

The fourth period of trade in Medford extends from 1805 
to the present time. The ship-building, the introduction 
of steam, the Middlesex Canal, the immigration of Bosto- 
nians to this place, — these all helped to open new avenues 
to wealth, and increase the facilities of supply. Within 
this period, more than three-fourths the present number 
of houses have been built ; and there are now five public 
highways where there was one fifty years ago. The whole 
course of trade has changed from barter to cash payments 
or credits ; and one trader now can do as much in a year 
as three could at the beginning of this century. The 



412 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

number of gentlemen who reside here, and do business 
in Boston, is very large, and they are multiplying every 
month ; and their family supplies are of course largely 
purchased from the traders of the town. 

During the embargo, in 1808, an old black schooner 
came up Mystic River with a deck-load of wood and bark. 
A custom-house officer from Boston took possession of 
her as a suspected smuggler. The captain invited the 
officer to take supper with him in the cabin. Tliey sat 
and ate together, and the captain asked to be excused a 
moment while he gave an order to his men. No sooner 
had he arrived on deck than he turned, and fastened the 
cabin door. Extempore Indians were ready to unload the 
hold of the schooner, which was full of English goods, 
wire, etc., from Halifax. During half the night, horse- 
wagons were passing to Boston from the old wharf, owned 
by Francis Shed, below the shipyard. Some teams went 
to Maiden, and some to West Cambridge. The amounts 
were very large, and the goods of the costliest kinds. 
The planting of that night produced a rich harvest. The 
goods were never discovered, but the vessel was con- 
demned and confiscated. How soundly the officer slept, 
is not known. 

Of manufacturing establishments, Medford has never 
had many, in the modern acceptation of the term. Among 
the first settlers, every house was, in one sense, a factory; 
for almost every one had a spinning-wheel and loom. For 
the early ship-building, there must have been extensive 
iron-works ; and much weaving of cotton and wool must 
have been necessary to supply the large numbers of fisher- 
men and brickmakers. Much wool was cleaned, carded, 
and rolled at the mill of Mr. John Albree, who was a 
manufacturer of starch and pomatum. Leaving out brick- 
making, ship-building, and distilling, we have little to 
record. Wooden heels were made by Mr. Samuel Reeves, 
1750; and specimens of his work are yet among his great- 
grandchildren in Medforil. Candles and hogsheads were 
extensively made, about the same time, by Messrs. Benja- 
min and Ebenezer Hall. Saltpetre was made in consid- 
erable quantities by Mr. Isaac Brooks. Wheelwrights 
carried on their business to a large extent. Mr. James 
Tufts and Son carried on for many years the pottery 
business. Tanning was vigorously pursued, with a great 
outlay of capital, by Mr. Ebenezer Hall, on land nearly 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 413 

opposite the High-school building; and by ^Tr. Jonathan 
Brooks, on land near Marble Brook. The first tanyard in 
IMedford was on the corner north of High Street, near 
High-street Court. It was bounded on the east by the 
brook, on the west by Canal Street, and on the north by 
High Street. It was last owned by Mr. Nathan Tufts and 
Mr. Jonathan Brooks, in company. When they sold it, 
Mr. Tufts moved to Charlestown, and became the most 
extensive manufacturer of leather in the State. 

There was another tanyard owned by Mr. Wade, and 
carried on as a tannery as late as 1825, on the south side 
of High Street, on grounds now used by Mr. James Bean, 
florist. 

In Baconville, now a part of Winchester, a good deal 
of business was carried on, — the spinning of yarn for 
broadcloth, the making of wood-screws, etc. In 1824 
Robert Bacon set up a manufactory of hat-bodies, feltings, 
etc. This business he continued until 1848, when he re- 
signed it to his son. Baconville was set off from Medford 
in 1S50, and, as has been said, became a part of the new 
town of Winchester. 

The making of linseed-oil was carried on by Mr. George 
L. Stearns, on land about fifty rods south of Mystic Bridge. 
He imported his seed from Calcutta. A convention of 
manufacturers of this oil was held at New York in 1841 ; 
and they agreed to send a committee to Washington, to 
induce Congress to shape the tariff of 1842 so as to pro- 
tect them. The committee succeeded, and Mr. Stearns 
was one of them. The effect was the opposite of what 
they expected : it induced so many new men to begin the 
business, that it ruined it. From 1835, the manufactory 
in Medford continued in operation to 1845, when it sus- 
pended activity. It resumed work for a year ; but the 
building was burned in 1847, and the enterprise was 
abandoned. 

Quite an extensive business in the manufacture of doors, 
blinds, and window-sashes, was carried on by Messrs. 
Waterman & Litchfield, from 1850 to i860, on Curtis's 
Wharf, near the entrance of Mystic Avenue. Their works 
were operated by steam. The business was finally trans- 
ferred to Charlestown. 



414 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



FISHERIES. 



To Medford belongs the honor of establishing the first 
fisheries in '* London's Plantation of Massachusetts Bay." 
Careful and costly preparations for this business were 
made in England, in 1629, by Mr. Cradock, who believed 
it the most promising investment then offered from the 
New World. In the company's "first general letter," 
under date of April 17, 1629, is indicated a course of trade 
which was to be pursued by the Medford fishermen. It is 
thus : — 

" We have sent five weigh of salt in the * Whelpe,' and ten weigh 
in the 'Talbot.' If there be shallops to be had to fish withal, and 
the season of the year fit, pray let the fishermen (of wliich we send 
six from Dorchester), together with some of the ship's company, 
endeavor to take fish ; and let it be well saved with the said salt, and 
packed up in hogsheads ; and send it home by the ' Talbot' or ' Lion's 
Whelpe.' " 

At the same time they send "a seine, being a net to fish 
with." May 28, 1629, they say, — 

"We send salt, lines, hooks, knives, boots, &c., for the fishermen, 
desiring our men may be employed in harbor, or upon the Bank. If 
you send ships to fish on the Bank, and expect them not to return 
again to the plantation, &c." 

By this it appears that those vessels which had caught a 
cargo of fish "on the Bank" were expected to take them 
thence to London. Sept. 3, 1635, the General Court chose 
a committee of six " for setting forward and managing 
a fishing-trade." That fishing was profitable, we have 
the following early record : "Thirty-five ships sailed this 
year (1622) from the west of England, and two from Lon- 
don, to fish on the New-England coasts ; and made profit- 
able voyages." Through the instrumentality of our fishing- 
interest, the General Court passed the following order, 
May 22, 1639 : " For further encouragement of men to set 
upon fishing, it is ordered, that such ships and vessels and 
other stock as shall be properly employed and adventured 
in taking, making, and transporting of fish according to 
the course of fishing-voyages, and the fish itself, shall be 
exempt, for seven years from henceforth, from all country 
charges," To show how minute was the fostering care of 
our fathers on this point, we have the following order 
of June 2, 1641 : "It is ordered that fishermen shall have 



%.-A^'k^' 




HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 415 

their fish for bait at the same rate that others have at the 
wears, and be first served." "The property of Governor 
Cradock, invested at Medford for fishing^ and other pur- 
poses," was large. Mr. Savage says, " He maintained a 
small plantation for fishing at Mistick, in the present bounds 
of Maiden, opposite to Winthrop's farm, at Ten Hills." 
Complaint was made by our fishermen of a law passed by 
Plymouth Colony, which laid a tax of five shillings on 
"every share of fish" caught by strangers "at the Cape." 
From all that we can gather, we conclude that Mr. Cra- 
dock had invested as much as fifteen thousand dollars, 
which in various trade here must have made Medford a 
thriving and populous plantation, for an infant settlement. 
The fishing-business continued for fifteen or twenty years, 
but with less and less profit to Mr. Cradock. It was finally 
abandoned as a failure, and afterwards the river-fishing 
alone claimed attention. 

May, 1639: The price of alewives in Medford, at this 
time, was five shillings per thousand. This made food 
incredibly cheap. 

That Mystic River, as a resort for fish, was early known 
and greatly valued, appears from many testimonies. In 
Josselyn's account of his two voyages to New England 
(1638) we have the following record : "The river Mistick 
runs through the right side of the town (Charlestown), and, 
by its near approach to Charles River in one place, makes 
a very narrow neck, where stands most part £)f the town. 
The market-place, not far from the water-side, is surrounded 
with houses." In Mystic River were "bass, shad, alewives, 
frost-fish, and smelts." Josselyn says, "We will return to 
Charlestown again, where the river Mistick runs on the 
north side of the town (that is, the right side, as before 
said), where, on the north-west side, is the town of Mistick, 
three miles from Charlestown, a league and a half by water, 
— a scattered village. At the head of this river are great 
and spacious ponds, full of alewives in the spring-time ; 
the notedest place for this sort of fish." This quotation 
from Josselyn goes to prove that bass, shad, and alewives 
were no strangers in our rivers. The "Wear" or fishing 
dam in Medford was at the outlet of the pond ; and, as our 
river was "the notedest place" for fish in the early days 
of our plantation, we presume that the "seine, being a net 
sent to fish with," was the first seine ever drawn in its 
waters, and the first drawn on this continent. This was 



41 6 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

probably in 163 1 ; and the first draught was doubtless an 
event of liveliest interest, of raw wonder, and exceeding 
joy. If any web or filament of that pioneer "seine " had 
come down to us, it would have been fitting for the town, 
in the year 1881, to parade it as the banner, and under it 
to unite in celebrating the fifth fishermen's jubilee on the 
river, June 6, 1639: "It is ordered that all wears shall be 
set open from the last day of the week, at noon, till the 
second day in the morning," 

Johnson, in his "Wonder-working Providence," says, 
" The Lord is pleased to provide for them great store of 
fish in the spring-time, and especially alewives, about the 
bigness of a herring. Many thousands of these they use 
to put under their Indian corn," 

Had Mr. Cradock's letters to his agents in Medford 
been preserved, we should certainly have in them a com- 
plete history of the fishing-establishment he maintained 
here, and probably a comparative estimate of sea and river 
fishing. The introduction of the drag-net, in 163 1, when 
Mystic River was full of fish, was an example that would 
be followed more and more, as proper seines could be knit 
and easy markets secured. The narrowness of the river, 
the steepness of its banks, its freedom from rocks, and its 
many convenient landing-places, rendered net-fishing easy 
and cheap. It settled down into a regular business, and 
any one had a right to pursue it. We have no account of 
the intermittent run of certain fish, as witnessed in our 
time ; but presume it may not have been so remarkable 
then, when dams and water-wheels had not impeded or 
frightened the finny adventurers, or when filth and poisons 
had not made their highways dangerous. We think it 
will be found that several species of fish will have periodic 
returns to places which they have left for many years. 

Acts of legislation have not been wanting by our town 
or State, but the fish care nothing about votes. The first 
mention of specific action by the town, as such, is dated 
Jan. 18, 1768, when it was voted "to petition the General 
Court concerning the fishery in this town." 

March 3, 1768: Mr. Benjamin Hall and others petition 
the General Court "for liberty to draw with seines, at two 
different places in Mistick River, three days in a week." 
This petition was not acted upon for some years. 

The next Act of the General Court, touching the Mystic 
fisheries, was dated Feb. 16, 1789, and was as follows : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 417 

"An Act to prevent the destruction of fish called shad and alewives 
in Mystic River, so called, within the towns of Cambridge, Cliarles- 
town, and Medford, and for repealing all laws heretofore made for 
that purpose. 

"Whereas the fishery in Mystic River, in the county of Middle-- 
sex, if properly regulated, will be of great public utility, as it serves, 
to promote the cod-fishery, and is also of advantage to the particular 
towns through which the river runs, affording, in some measure, sub- 
sistence and support to the inhabitants thereof, and is therefore ne- 
cessary to be preserved," etc. 

The Act provides that each of the three towns is em- 
powered to choose a committee for the preservation of fish, 
whose duty it shall be to keep out of the river all obstrucr 
tions to the free ingress of the fish. The Act grants to 
Cambridge the right to fish, within the limits of that town, 
on Monday, Tuesday, and F'riday ; and to Charlestown 
and Medford the right of fishing, within the limits of those 
towns, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, — from the 
first of March to the last day of June. Penalty for each 
violation of the law, three pounds. In this Act, the right 
of each inhabitant to fish is recognized and secured. If 
persons from other towns should either stop or catch fish 
in this river, they shall each be fined three pounds for 
every such offence ; and the committee shall have power 
to arrest them, and sell their seines, drag-nets, marsh-nets, 
baskets, or any other implements used by them. " This 
Act to be in use five years, and no longer." 

Immediately on the passage of this Act, the town pro- 
ceeded, April 2, 1798, to a new step, indicated in the fol- 
lowing vote: "Voted that the town will let out their 
fishing-grounds to the highest bidder the present year." 
While this vote was based upon the original right of the 
town to the fisheries within its borders, some minor ques- 
tions arose, which led the inhabitants, at the same meet- 
ing, to choose a committee to inquire into the rights of 
the town to the fishing-grounds. The result was, that, 
Jan. 21, 1803, the town "voted that a petition be pre- 
sented to the General Court, at their present session, to 
enable the town to let out the right of taking fish in Mys- 
tic River, within the limits of the town." The Legisla- 
ture granted the petition ; and Medford then divided the 
fishing-districts thus : " First, from Charlestown and Mai- 
den line to Medford Bridge ; second, from the bridge to 
the beach opposite James Tufts's barn ; third, from the 
above-named beach to the Charlestown line westerly." 



41 8 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Among the earliest fishermen were John Cutter, Jona- 
than Tufts, and Benjamin Teel. In 1803 Cutter paid 
sixty-five dollars, Tufts thirteen dollars, and Teel thirteen 
dollars, for the right of fishing. 

John Cutter fished near the "Dike," or "Labor in 
Vain ; " Isaac Tufts fished from the bridge to Rock Hill; 
and Captain Samuel Teel and his nephew, from Rock 
'Hill to the pond. The names of the fishermen are sel- 
dom given in the records. Charles, Simon, and Seth 
Tufts are there. 

In accordance with the decision of the Legislature, the 
town voted, March 14, 1803, to sell their right of fishing 
in Mystic River. It was sold for ninety-one dollars, at 
public auction. The next year it was sold, in the same 
manner, for one hundred and six dollars ; and this equita- 
ble mode of disposing of it became established, and the 
premium offered continued for several years to increase. 

The vote of the town was generally thus, as on March 
I, 1824: ''Voted that the selectmen be appointed a com- 
mittee to dispose of the privilege of taking shad and ale- 
wives within the limits of said town the ensuing season." 
In 1855 Joseph L. Wheeler bought the "upper reach," 
from Marble Brook to the pond, for $27.50 per annum; 
and James Rogers bought the " lower reach," from Mar- 
ble Brook to the eastern border of the town, for $122.50 
per annum. 

The shad and alewives were abundant till 181 5 or 
■1820, when they began gradually to withhold their visits. 
A writer says, that, about the year 1800, it was common 
to take fifteen hundred shad annually at "Little River" 
(near Fresh Pond), but that in 1852 there was not one 
taken ; and that, proportionally, a similar statement might 
be made concerning alewives. 

Nothing can frighten alewives, but the shad is an ex- 
ceedingly shy and timid fish. Its disappearance from our 
river is therefore attributed to the terrific noises made by 
railroad cars, as they cross the Mystic at Charlestown. 
The largest number of alewives taken by one draught from 
Mystic River was in 1844; and they counted some few 
more than fifty-eight thousand ! We once saw taken, by 
one draught from this river, shad sufficient to fill six horse- 
carts. In Mystic River the bass have wholly disappeared; 
though there are those living who remember to have seen 
them plenty, and some of them weighing more than thirty 
pounds. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 419 

In 1776 a negro, named Prince, was at work on the 
bank of the river, opposite the shallow where the ford was, 
a few rods above the bridge, when he saw an enormous 
bass swimming very slowly up the river. The tide was 
inconveniently low for the bass, but conveniently low for 
the negro. Plunge went Prince for the fish, and caught 
him ! No sooner was he out of the water than a desperate 
spring, such as fishes can give, released him from his cap- 
tor ; and back he falls into his native element. Quick as 
a steel-trap. Prince springs upon him again, and again 
clutches him and lifts him up. The fish struggles, and 
Prince and fish fall together. Again Prince rises, with his 
prize in his arms, and then brings him ashore. It weighed 
sixty-five pounds. Prince thought that such a wonderful 
fish should be presented to the commander of the Ameri- 
can forces then stationed on Winter Hill. His master 
thought so too. Accordingly Prince dressed himself in 
his best clothes, and, taking the fish in a cart, presented 
it to the commander, and told the history of its capture ; 
and the commander gave him six cents ! 

The shad, of late years, have not been abundant ; only 
forty or fifty taken during a season. The number of ale- 
wives has also greatly diminished. Smelts continue to 
make their annual spring visit in undiminished numbers ; 
and when, for noblest ends, they stealthily enter our 
creeks and little streams, they are watched by the hungry 
boys, who for sport or profit, drive them into their scoop- 
nets by dozens. In this town, they do not let enough 
escape to keep the race alive ; and if, in all other towns, 
they were so destroyed, this beautiful and delicious fish 
would become extinct among us. 

In Mystic Pond, there are few fish at present. The 
fresh-water perch, which appear in the sun like a frag- 
ment of a rainbow shooting through the water, are the 
most numerous. The bream are not uncommon, but 
their size is very small. The tomcod come to winter 
there, and are easily taken thus : Some ten or twelve of 
them gather about a small stone, very near the shore, and 
each makes its nose to touch the stone. The fisherman 
sees this unfrightened family circle quietly reposing; and 
he suddenly and strongly strikes the ice with an axe, 
directly over the unsuspecting group. The blow stuns 
the fish ; and he quickly cuts a hole, and takes them all 
out. Of minnows there are scarcely any, owing to the 



420 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

presence of that fresh-water shark, the pickerel. Eels are 
taken in winter by means of forked irons, thrust into the 
mud through holes in the ice ; and smelts are taken at 
the same time, in the river near Charlestown, by means 
of the common hook. 

Oyster-fishing is another branch of trade carried on 
from Mystic River. In the early settlement of our town, 
oysters were extensively used as food, and they were 
easily taken. They so far abounded in that part of the 
river which is now between Mystic Avenue river-wall and 
Maiden Bridge, that they obstructed navigation. Mr. 
Wood, speaking, in 1633, of these hinderances, has these 
words : " Ships, without either ballast or lading, may 
float down this (Mystic) river ; otherwise, the oyster-bank 
would hinder them, which crosseth the channel." This 
oyster-bank is one of those unfortunate institutions whose 
fate it has been to be often "run upon," and on which the 
"draughts" have been so much greater than the "de- 
posits" that it long ago became bankrupt; yet, like an 
honest tradesman, it has never despaired, and within the 
present century has made some fair dividends. 

Lobsters have not frequented our river in great num- 
bers ; but in 1854 they came up in large companies as far 
as Chelsea Bridge, and in the warm month of October 
more than two thousand, of prime quality, were taken 
from that bridge. 

The names of all the fishermen in Medford cannot be 
recovered ; but, among them, there have been men of that 
great energy which secures success. 

The fish found their market chiefly in Boston ; and 
were sometimes cured, and sent in barrels to the Southern 
States, as food for slaves, or to the West Indies for com- 
mon consumption. Many were smoked, after the manner 
of herring, and eaten in New England ; many more were 
used as bait for cod-fishmg on the Banks. Alewives, in 
early times, were sometimes used as manure ; and shad 
were salted in tubs, and eaten in the winter. 

The income from these fisheries may not have been 
very large, unless we count the support which fish fur- 
nished as food ; and, in such case, we apprehend the 
income was great indeed. They gave a needed and most 
welcome variety in that brief list of eatables with which 
our fathers were wont to be contented. 

In 1829, by the enterprise of Mr. John Bishop, the busi- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 42 1 

ness of mackerel-fishing was attempted. Some of the 
finest schooners from the fleets of Hingham were pur- 
chased, and fitted out in amplest order. Three schooners 
were built in Medford for this service. But, before two 
years had elapsed, it was found impossible to compete 
with Plymouth, Hingham, Gloucester, and Boston. In 
those places, barrels and salt were cheaper than at Med- 
ford, and the common market more accessible, especially 
in winter. 

Fishing continued in Mystic River till about 1865, the 
town selling the right, and realizing about two hundred 
dollars per year. At that time fishing in the river was 
temporarily suspended, as an effort was being made by the 
State authorities to re-stock the stream with fish. The 
undertaking was attended by a considerable degree of suc- 
cess, and would doubtless have realized all the hopes of 
its projectors, but for the constant pollution of the waters 
of the river by the inflow of sewage from neighboring 
towns. 

SHIP-BUILDING. 

Governor Winthrop sailed from Cowes, in England, 
on Thursday, April 8, 1630. On Saturday, June 12, he 
reached Boston Bay ; and, on the 17th of that month, he 
makes the following record: "Went up Mistick River 
about six miles." 

To this heroic and Christian adventurer belongs the 
honor of building the first vessel whose keel was laid in 
this part of the Western World ; and that vessel was built 
on the bank of Mystic River, and probably not far from 
the governor's house at "Ten Hills." There is a tradi- 
tion that it was built on the north shore of the river, and 
therefore within the limits of Medford. The record con- 
cerning it is as follows: July 4, 1631. The governor 
built a bark at Mistick, which was launched this day, and 
called 'The Blessing of the Bay.' " 

"Aug. 9, the same year, the governor's bark, being of 
thirty tons, went to sea." 

It cost one hundred and forty-five pounds. The owner 
said of it, May 16, 1636, "I will sell her for one hundred 
and sixty pounds." 

The second year (1632) witnessed another vessel built 
by Mr, Cradock on the bank of the Mystic, whose register 
was a hundred tons. In 1633 a ship of two hundred tons 



422 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

was built ; and another, named " Rebecca," tonna::;e 
unknown : both built by Mr. Cradock. ]\Ir. William 
Wood, in 1633, writes: "Mr. Cradock is here at charges 
of building ships. The last year, one was upon the stocks 
of a hundred tons : that being finished, they are to build 
twice her burden." There is reason to believe that Mr. 
Cradock's shipyard was that recently occupied by Mr. 
J. T. Foster. 

That large vessels could float in the river, had been 
proved by the governor, who may be called the first navi- 
gator of our narrow and winding stream. The long pas- 
sages made by these schooners prove to us, that their 
form and rig were not after the model and fashion of our 
day. One of them was " six weeks going to Virginea." 

There is a tradition, probably founded on fact, that 
small sloops, called lighters, fit for the river navigation, 
were built in the very early times at the "landing" near 
" Rock Hill," in West Medford. At a later day, one of 
these was built there by Mr. Rhodes of Boston, and called 
"The Mayflower," in honor of that vessel of one hundred 
and eighty tons, which came across the Atlantic freighted 
to the full with religion and liberty, and which landed our 
Pilgrim Fathers on the Rock of Plymouth. The registers 
of this small craft are lost, if they ever existed ; as no 
trace of them can be found in the records of the Custom 
House at Boston, or in those of the Secretary of the Navy 
at Washington. This business of ship-building, begin- 
ning in 163 1, and increasing annually for several years, 
required many men, who required houses and food within 
the town. 

"Oct. 7, 1G41 : General Court. — Whereas the country is now in 
hand with the building of ships, which is a lousiness of great impor- 
tance for the common good, and therefore suitable care is to be taken 
that it be well performed ; it is tlierefore ordered, that, wlien any ship 
is to be built within this jurisdiction, it shall be lawful for the owners 
to appoint and put in some able man to survey the work and workmen 
from time to time, to see that it be performed and carried on accord- 
ing to the rules of their art." 

May 29, 1644, the General Court proposed the forma- 
tion of a company of ship-builders, "with power to. regu- 
late the building of ships, and to make such orders and 
laws amongst themselves as may conduce to the public 
good." 

Mystic River, having no fatal shoals or rocks within it. 




^^^^^^l^^^^^^^^^-^x^^?^ 



/^<^/^<^ 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 433 

permits the passage of an empty ship of twenty-five hun- 
dred tons at the highest tides. If we can suppose a sea- 
serpent to have started from Charlestown for a visit to the 
country, and a small stream of tide-water to have followed 
him in his explorations, we can imagine him thus marking 
out by his many and sudden windings the course of our 
river from Boston Bay to Mystic Pond, — rendering it 
thus serpentine in order to present the best accommoda- 
tions to the greatest number of ship-builders. Where can 
a little river be found that will afford convenient sites for 
ten large shipyards within one mile's distance.'' When, 
in one of these yards, we have seen from one to three ves- 
sels on the. stocks at the same time, and have listened to 
that well-known, busy hum that comes from the boring of 
augers, the cutting of saws, and the driving of bolts, we 
have felt that a more glorious exhibition of human indus- 
try could nowhere be witnessed. To the gentlemen who 
have been at the head of this great enterprise, Medford 
was deeply indebted. The names of Magoun, Turner, 
Lapham, Sprague, James, Fuller, Rogers, Stetson, Water- 
man, Ewell, Curtis, Foster, Taylor, and others, will be 
held in grateful remembrance for many generations. 

Mr. Calvin Turner was esteemed as one of the most 
skilful and accurate draughtsmen, as well as one of the 
most faithful builders, in New England. His yard was 
opposite Cross Street. He came to Medford in 1804, and 
rapidly acquired reputation by his genius and fidelity. 

Mr. George Bryant Lapham was among the earliest 
comers connected with ship-building here. By patient in- 
dustry, sound judgment, and unobtrusive merit, he won 
confidence, and commanded respect. The same may be 
said of the other builders : they were all men of excellent 
business qualities, and by their honorable dealing won 
the respect of their employees, and the confidence of the 
public. 

Of the pioneer in this eventful movement of ship-build- 
ing, we may take the liberty of stating a few facts, as they 
belong to the history of the town. 

Thatcher Magoun, Esq., was born in Pembroke, Mass., 
June 17, 1775, — that red-letter day in Freedom's calen- 
dar. He early chose the trade of a ship-carpenter, and 
served his time with Mr. Enos Briggs, at Salem, where he 
worked five years. He was fond of being in the "mould- 
room," and soon showed good reasons for his predilection. 



424 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

From Salem, he went to Mr. Barker's yard, in Charlestown 
(the present Navy Yard), where he worked and studied 
two years, and assisted in modelling. There he made 
the model of the first vessel he built, which was the 
"Mount /Etna," of Medford. In 1802 he began to look 
about him for a place in which he might safely begin, on 
his own account, the business which was the darling 
choice of his life. An accident, so called in the world's 
language, led him, one pleasant day, on a stroll upon Win- 
ter Hill ; and standing on one of those mounds of earth 
thrown up by our patriot soldiers, probably on the day 
he was born, for a rampart, he took a calm survey of 
Mystic River as the tide gave its full outline. At this 
moment came into mind the thought that here was a good 
place to build ships. But many things were to be ascer- 
tained about it. How deep is the water at high tide.'* 
Are there any rocks or shoals in the bed of the stream } 
Can timber be readily got in the neighborhood ? and can 
land be bought at a fair price .'' These were inquiries 
which rushed through his mind, and he felt that they 
must be answered. As his eye was searching river and 
woods, he saw the two masts of a schooner which was 
lying at one of the distill-housc wharves, in Medford. He 
immediately started for her. This was his first visit to 
Medford. He reached the schooner ; and his eager ques- 
tion CO the captain was, "How much water do you draw.''" 
Answer, " Ten feet." — " What's your tonnage .'* " — An- 
swer, "One hundred and twenty tons." — "Do you go up 
and down the river often .^ " — "Yes, I bring wood for this 
distillery." — "Are there any large rocks or bad shoals in 
the bed of the river } " — " No, it's all clear." — " How deep 
is the water generally at high tide.''" — "I guess from fif- 
teen to twenty feet." — "Do you think an empty ship of 
three hundred tons could float down the river?" — "Oh, 
yes." After this conversation, he silently concluded to 
make the trial. He found intelligent and affluent citizens 
in Medford who were ready to aid him, but he told them 
"he could not afford to be helped." A young man thus 
afraid of debts would be likely to succeed without foreign 
aid. Young Magoun thus illustrated the common remark, 
that, where fathers do every thing for their sons, the sons 
do nothing for themselves ; and, where fathers can do noth- 
ing for their sons, the sons do every thing for themselves ; 
makinu" the difference between the giant and the dwarf. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 425 

Some advised his beginning to build above the bridge. 
He accordingly examined the bed of the river, and the 
depth of the water at low tide, by fording and wading ; 
and thus decided not to fix himself there. He then 
weighed the reasons for prefering other places, till he 
finally concluded in favor of the spot where he first settled, 
on Riverside Avenue, a little south of Park Street, and 
where all his ships were built. His convictions being 
firm, that the river could float any vessel he might build, 
that the neighborhood could furnish an ample supply of 
oak timber, and that the site he had chosen could be pur- 
chased at a moderate price, he made an offer, which was 
accepted. Thus 1802 saw laid the first keel of that fleet 
of ocean merchant-ships whose sails have shaded every sea 
and bay on the navigable globe. Mr. Magoun lived to see 
his favorite science and art carried to new triumphs, and 
from which he realized an ample fortune. He builr, and 
occupied for many years and until his death, the house that 
is now the Public Library building. 

Timber was procured from Medford, Maiden, Woburn, 
Burlington, Lexington, Stoneham, Andover, and their ad- 
joining towns. Mr. Magoun's first purchase of it was 
trees standing in what is now Winchester. He gave six 
dollars per ton : the seller was to cut and deliver it. It 
was more difficult to get the white-oak plank. When the 
Middlesex Canal was opened, a supply came through that 
channel ; and large rafts were floated into the river through 
a side lock, which was near the entrance of Mystic Ave- 
nue. With our first builders, their price per ton for 
building was twenty-five dollars ; but they furnished only 
the wood and labor, — every thing else was furnished by 
the owner. 

The increase of size in our Medford ships was gradual. 
The " Columbiana," built in 1837, was the first of six hun- 
dred tons ; and the " Ocean Express," the first of two 
thousand tons. The ship " Shooting Star" was the first 
clipper built here ; and the " George Peabody," the first 
vessel that passed the bridges on Mystic River, after the 
draws had been widened according to the direction of the 
Legislature. 

The Rev. A. R. Baker, pastor of the Second Congrega- 
tional Church, preached a discourse on ship-building, in 
1846, to which is appended a " register of vessels built in 
Medford," He says, " I have enrolled them so as to pre- 



426 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

sent the year of their construction, their description and 
name, the yard in which they were built, the name of 
their respective builders and first owners, the residence 
of the latter, the tonnage of each vessel, the amount of 
tonnage, and the value of the vessels built here, estimat- 
ing the hull, spars, and blocks of each at forty-five dollars 
per ton." 

That "register" (which is too extensive for admission 
here), if continued to the close of the business in 1873, 
would show that five hundred and sixty-seven vessels have 
been built in Medford during the present century, with an 
aggregate of 272,124 tons, and at a cost of $12,245,580. 
The greatest number of vessels constructed in any one 
yard was one hundred and eighty-five ; and in any single 
year, thirty. That year was 1845. 

" The tonnage of the vessels built here in that year," 
says Mr. Baker, "was 9,712 tons; their aggregate value, 
as they left our yards, about half a million of dollars. 
The shortest space in which a vessel was ever built in 
the town was twenty-six days. Her name was 'The 
Avon,' a ship of four hundred tons, which, with two others 
built here about the same period, served as privateers in 
the last war with the mother country. In the five years 
preceding April i, 1837, sixty vessels were built in this 
town, which employed two hundred and thirty-nine work- 
men, and of which the measurement was 24,195 tons, and 
the value $1,1 12,970. All those constructed in the county, 
except eleven, were built here. The value of these sixty 
was about one-sixth of all the shipping built in the Com- 
monwealth during the same period. In the year preced- 
ing April I, 1845, twenty-four ships were launched here, 
which employed two hundred and fifty men, whose tonnage 
was 9,660, and whose value was half a million of dollars. 
In that year, one-quarter of the ship-builders in the Com- 
monwealth were employed in this town, and built nearly 
one-quarter of the ships constructed in the State, one- 
third of the tonnage, and one-half the value of the whole. 
From this result, so creditable to our town, it appears that 
a given number of workmen here build larger and more 
valuable vessels than those which are commonly con- 
structed in other parts of the Commonwealth." 

The following table records the builders' names, the 
number built by each, the years of building their first and 
last ship, and the extremes of tonnage : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



427 



BUILDERS. 


No. 


First. 


Last. 


Smallest. 


Largest. 


Thatcher Masoun 


84 


1803 


1836 


96 


509 


C. Turner & E. Briggs 










3 


1S04 


1807 


100 


246 


Calvin Turner . . 










25 


1807 


1S16 


65 


426 


James Ford .... 










2 


1S14 


1815 


145 


372 


Sprague & James . 












66 


1S16 


1842 


36 


644 


George Fuller . . 












29 


1817 


1843 


35 


480 


E. & H. Roaers . 












9 


1S22 


1825 


62 


362 


John Sparrell . . 
Samuel Lapham 












I 


1S29 


- 


70 


- 












20 


1830 


1854 


206 


1500 


Jotham Stetson . . 












32 


1833 


1853 


160 


1061 


Curtis & Co. . . . 












2 


1834 


1833 


550 


550 


P. & J. 0. Curtis . 












6 


1836 


1839 


504 


650 


Waterman 8; Ewell 












51 


1836 


1845 


240 


828 


Foster & Taylor 












22 


1838 


1845 


lOI 


700 


Paul Curtis . . . 












27 


1839 


1852 


203 


1080 


James O. Curtis 












78 


1S39 


1869 


72 


2000 


George H. Briggs . 












I 


1845 


- 


100 


- 


Peter Lewis . . . 












I 


1845 


- 


98 


- 


Henry Ewell . . . 












9 


1845 


1S48 


100 


616 


John Taylor . . . 












12 


1S46 


1851 


230 


1050 


Joshua T. Foster . 












42 


1847 


1873 


112 


1300 


Hayden & Cudworth 












39 


1847 


r866 


40 


1250 


B. F. Delano . . 










2 


1851 


1851 


400 


800 


Calvin Turner . . 










I 


1854 


~ 


387 


" 



The next table will show the rise and decline of this 
industry in Medford, with the relative capacity of vessels 
built in the successive decades : — 



DECADE. 


Number. 


Average Tonnage. 


Total Tonnage. 


1803-1S12 

1813-1822 .... 

1823-1832 

1833-1842 .... 

1843-1S52 

1853-1862 .... 
1863-1873 


32 
62 

83 
121 
x8s 
70 
14 


262.77 
249.50 
280.54 
476.64 
526.67 

825-93 
860.64 


8,408 
15.459 
23.285 
57.674 
97.434 
57.815 
12,049 




567 


479-93 


272,124 



The last ship built in this town was launched from 
the shipyard of Mr. Joshua T. Foster, in 1873. The de- 
cline of the commercial marine of this country, owing 
to causes which need not be detailed here, and the cessa- 
tion of all demand for the class of vessels which had been 
built in Medford, resulted in the extinction of an industry, 
which, for more than seventy years, had been a source of 
prosperity and honor to the town. 



428 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS. 

The large deposits of valuable clay within the town of 
Medford early directed the attention of the enterprising 
inhabitants to the manufacture of bricks ; and those made 
in 1630 for Mr. Cradock's house were the first. Bricks 
were made on Colonel Royal's estate. Clay deposits were 
found between his mansion-house and the ri\cr. A most 
extensive and profitable business was carried on in these 
yards for many years. At a later date, say 1750, bricks 
were made on land directly north of Dr. Tufts's house. 
The steep bank now in front of Mr. H. \V. Bigelow's 
house marks the place. This land, called Brick -yard Pas- 
ture, was owned by Rev. Mather Byles of Boston, and 
sold by him to Dr. Simon Tufts, March 26, 1761. 

Nov. 14, 1774, the town passed the following vote: 
"That this town does disapprove of any bricks being car- 
ried to Boston till the committees of the neighboring 
towns shall consent to it." 

About the same time Captain Caleb Blanchard and his 
brother Simon made bricks in a yard near Mr. Cradock's 
house, in the eastern part of the town ; and afterwards in 
a yard on land on Salem Street, on the edge of Maiden. 

The bricks used for the construction of the si.x tombs 
first built in the old burying-ground were made in a yard 
owned by Thomas Brooks, Esq. That yard was near 
Mystic River, about half-way between Rock Hill and the 
Lowell Railroad Bridge. In that yard, Samuel Francis 
made bricks as early as 1750, and sold them at ten shil- 
lings per thousand (lawful money). Mr. Brooks carried 
on the manufacture in 1760, and sold them at fifteen shil- 
lings. Mr. Stephen Hall was the next occupant of that 
yard. In 1795 the price was four dollars per thousand. 

Captain Caleb Brooks made bricks on the land after- 
wards occupied by the Second Meeting-house. 

A bed of clay was opened in 1805, about forty rods east 
of the Wear Bridge, on land belonging to Spencer Buck- 
nam, lying on the north side of the road. Only one kiln 
was burned there. 

Fowttain Yards. — These yards, which were near the 
"Fountain House," about eighty rods east of "Gravelly 
Bridge," were early in order of age. Messrs. William 
Tufts, Thomas Bradshaw, Hutchinson Tufts, Benjamin 
Tufts, and S}'lvanus Blanchard were the manufacturers 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 429 

in that locality. These yards were long since discon 
tinned. 

Yards near the "Cradock House" were opened in 1630. 
Mr. Francis Shedd occupied them in 1700. 

" Sodojii Yards.'' — As the familiar but improper sobri- 
quet of Sodom was early given to that part of IMedford 
which lies south of the river, the brick-yards opened by 
the brothers Isaac, Jonathan, and Ebenezer Tufts, obtained 
the local name. After these gentlemen came Seth Tufts, 
who, with his son Seth, carried on the business many 
years. These yards were situated near Middlesex Canal 
and the river, about south-south-east from Rock Hill. 

There was once a brick-yard on the low lands just west 
of Boston Avenue and opposite the "Old Canal House." 
The evidence of its existence was very clear in our boy- 
hood, and some traces of it exist at the present da3\ It 
was worked in the latter part of the last century. 

On land now owned by Mr. Francis Brooks, a little west 
of Brooks Street, and near the head of Woburn Street, 
there was once a brick-yard. 

The bricks in the wall now standing on Grove Street, 
owned by Peter C. Brooks and Shepherd Brooks, were 
probably made on this land by slaves owned by one of 
their ancestors. 

The next in order of age were the yards opened in 18 10 
by Nathan Adams, Esq. They were situated each side of 
the old county road, leading from Medford over Winter 
Hill, and were about half a mile south of the "Great 
Bridge," in the small valley on the borders of Winter 
Brook. From the first kiln, Captain Adams built the 
house now standing on the right side of the road, twenty 
rods north of the kiln, as an advertisement ; and the bricks 
show the goodness of the clay and the skill of the work- 
men. These yards were next occupied by Mr. Babbitt, 
and by him worked for several years. He was succeeded 
by a Mr. Buzzell, who, with associates, worked the yard ; 
but they were not successful, and that clay-bed was not 
disturbed for some years after they left it. In 1876 John 
Thresher renewed brick-making at that point, and has 
made, each year since, from two to three millions of 
bricks. 

Still farther south, and near the fork of the roads lead- 
ing to Boston, through Charlestown and East Cambridge, 
is another yard, which, for many years, was worked by 



430 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Mr. Littlefield ; but, from 1878 to the present time, has 
been in the hands of Mr. Thomas Casey, who is now 
making, every year, five or si.x hundred thousand pressed 
bricks of a very superior character. 

The Massachusetts Brick Company was started in 1865, 
and continued business for a few years, on an extensive 
scale, between the two yards last named. They manufac- 
tured by the new process of using dry clay ; but the bricks 
were not durable, and the company abandoned the enter- 
prise. 

The Bay State Brick Company was organized, 1863, by 
the election of the following officers : — 

President. — R. S. Wade. 
Treasurer. — J. B. Turner. 

Trustees. — H. R. Cumston, Peter Hubbell, Job A. Turner, Charles 
W. Pearson, William Cumston. 

The extensive yards of this company are situated on 
Riverside Avenue, a short distance below the Cradock 
House. Their annual product since the organization of 
the company has been about fifteen million bricks ; and 
the company has made three hundred millions. It has 
consumed, annually, six thousand cords of wood, and has 
employed about three hundred and fifty hands to do the 
work. 

DISTILLERIES. 

The manufacture of alcohol was a business held in good 
repute by our Medford ancestors, and some of the most 
worthy men of the town were engaged in it. It was not 
uncommon, in the first century of the growth of Medford, 
for private families to have a " still," by running which 
they supplied themselves witli alcohol for medicinal pur- 
poses, sold small quantities to their neighbors, and made 
for use different kinds of cordials. 

It was considered a breach of hospitality not to offer a 
visitor some kind of spirituous liquor; and if the bottle 
was empty when the clergyman made his call, many-words 
of apology were deemed necessary. It is said that on the 
occasion of one of Rev. Dr. Byles's visits to his parishioners, 
the following dialogue occurred. The lady of the house, 
boasting of the beverage just then upon the doctor's lips, 
asked him to step into the kitchen and see the " still " in 
which it was made. When she had extolled its wonderful 
qualities the doctor said, "Well, madam, if it be so very 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 43 1 

remarkable, I wish you would do a job for me with it." 
— "With all my heart, sir," said the lady; "what shall I 
do?" — "Why," said the reverend gentleman, "still my 
wife's tongue." 

This story may deserve the name of a myth ; but it is 
not to be doubted that in the early days of New-England 
history many a pious pastor, by taking a little stimulus at 
each of numerous calls, found his tongue just loose enough 
to perpetrate a very silly and scandalous joke. 

It is not known who set in operation the first distillery 
in Medford, but presumably it was Mr. Andrew Hall ; 
and the date of his enterprise was 1735. The spot he oc- 
cupied was that on which the present distillery stands. 
The building was of wood, and the spot was chosen chiefly 
for the reason that a most copious spring of peculiarly 
good water issues from the earth at that place. The great 
reputation obtained by the Medford rum is attributed to 
the singular properties of this spring. 

Mr. Hall died just as his eldest son, Benjamin, had 
reached his majority. This son stepped mto his father's 
place, and carried on the business. 

There is a tradition that a man named Blanchard set up 
a distillery in this town very early in its history, which was 
afterwards used by Hezekiah Blanchard the innholder, 
who distilled there anise-seed, snake-root, clove-water, 
etc., which liquors were afterwards produced in large quan- 
tities in Medford. This distillery was located on the first 
lot east of the bridge, on the south side of the river. 

In 1777 Medford rum was sold by the barrel, for 3^-. \od. 
per gallon, and at 4^-. 6d. in smaller quantities. 

There was not much profit in making rum at such 
prices; but the second Mr. Hall persevered in his voca- 
tion. One year, having invested his little capital in 
molasses until he had filled his last vat, there came a tide 
so high that it overflowed his premises and gave him a 
stock of salt water and molasses, that proved to be utterly 
useless. That tidal wave ruined him as effectually as it did 
his material for rum ; but with true An2:lo-Saxon courage 
he kept up a good heart, and would not acknowledge that 
he was beaten. 

He asked his friends in Maiden to aid him in starting 
again ; and Capt. John Dexter, Capt. Harnden, and Mr, 
John Bucknam joined him in building the second distill- 
ery, which, in our day, is converted into a shelter for the 



432 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

locomotives of the Medford Branch Railroad. After this 
time, Mr. John Bishop built a distillery on the opposite 
side of Riverside Avenue, and nearer the river. Mr. Ben- 
jamin Hall, in 1797, took down the one which his father 
had built of wood, and replaced it with the one of brick 
which is now used. This enlargement of the business, 
together with the high reputation justly acquired by the 
manufacturers in Medford, gave employment to many 
workmen ; and the business was considered lucrative, and 
desirable as an industry of the town. Distilling has been 
carried on in this town by Messrs. Andrew Hall, Ben- 
jamin Hall, John Bishop, Nathaniel _ Hall, Fitch Tufts, 
Joseph Swan, Hall & Manning, Joseph Hall, Bishop, 
Goodrich & Lawrence, Fitch & Lawrence, Daniel Law- 
rence, and Daniel Lawrence & Sons, by which firm alone 
it is at present prosecuted. 

Soon after 1830 all the distilleries, except the one now 
used by the firm last mentioned, were discontinued, and 
three of the building's were demolished. 



WAGON-BUILDING. 

Jesse Crosby, in 18 16, established at the junction of 
Main Street and the Medford turnpike (now Mystic 
Avenue) the business of a wheelwright and plough-manu- 
facturer ; and conducted it with much success till 1839, 
when he sold out to Elbridge Teel, who had commenced 
the same business on Union Street in 1836. Mr. Teel 
conducted the business alone till 1850, when Thomas O. 
Hill became an equal partner. In 1872 a third partner 
was received ; the firm now consisting of Elbridge Teel, 
Thomas O. Hill, and Josiah R. Teel, under the title of 
E. Teel & Co. The business from the first had been on 
the increase, but in the last thirty years has undergone a 
material change in character. For some time its principal 
work has been the manufacture of milk, grocers', bread, and 
express wagons and pungs ; the iron-work, the trimming 
and painting, as well as the wood-work, being done on the 
premises. A large amount of repairing is also done. The 
works cover about an acre of land, with three large fac- 
tories on Union Street and the depository on Mystic 
Avenue, erected 1883, which is one hundred and ten 
feet long by thirty-eight feet wide, and three stories high. 
From thirty-five to forty-five men are employed in the 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 433 

various departments. The wagons and pungs of E. Teel 
& Co. have a very wide reputation for their thorough work- 
manship and excellence of finish. 

GOLD-BEATING. 

Of the very few gold-beating establishments in Massa- 
chusetts, the largest, owned and conducted by Mr, Charles 
P. Lauriat, is located in Medford. 

He commenced the business on Almont Street in 1856, 
removed to Salem Street about two years later, and to his 
present location on Ashland Street in 1866. He has also 
a smaller factory under the charge of Amos C. Lauriat 
on Riverside Avenue ; and his entire business, amounting 
to about fifty thousand dollars per year, gives employ- 
ment, including both sexes, to some thirty-five or forty 
persons. 

Mr. Lewis A. Lauriat, the popular and successful aero- 
naut of fifty years ago, of whose eleven children Charles 
P. was the youngest, was the first to introduce the gold- 
beating business in Massachusetts. 

A small factory for the same business has been recently 
opened on Riverside Avenue by Mr. Thomas Wright. 

LEATHER MANUFACTURING. 

In 1856 Messrs. George Gill and George Walker estab- 
lished in Medford the business of currying and finishing 
leather, and continued the same for several years with fair 
success. Then Mr. Gill withdrew from the firm, and Mr. 
Myrick purchased his interest. Walker and Myrick car- 
ried on the business for three or four years, and then Mr. 
Morris Broderick engaged in it for a short time. 

After that, nothing was done in that business in this 
town, until 1879; when Mr. P. McGowan took hold of it 
with commendable energy, and has found the reward that 
enterprise and good management are sure to win. At 
this time (1885), he employs about fifty men, and present 
indications promise a large increase in his business, 

MYSTIC PRINT-WORKS. 

This branch of business was established in the east 
part of the town in 1863, by John Cochrane, jun. It 
has been and is an important business, and gives employ- 



434 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

ment to nearly one hundred workmen. Its pay-roll an- 
nually amounts to fifty or sixty thousand dollars. 

THF MEDFORD CARPET-FACTORY. 

The factory was established in 1866, by John Cochrane, 
jun., on the same premises occupied by the print-works. 
It annually produces from two hundred and fifty to three 
hundred thousand yards of the best tapestries in the mar- 
ket. It gives employment to one hundred and twenty- 
five or more workmen. Its annual pay-roll is about sixty 
thousand dollars. At this establishment a "Turkey-red" 
department for printing and dyeing was quite extensively 
carried on for several years ; but business accommodations 
were too limited, and that branch was removed to Maiden 
in 1882, where it is now conducted on a very large scale. 

THE BRUNSWICK ANTIMONY COMPANY 

was established in Medford in April, 1880. Charles E. 
Parsons is superintendent and chemist. The ore is shipped 
from the mines to the factory in Medford, there passed 
through the various processes till prepared for the market. 
Some twenty to twenty-five men are now employed, with 
favorable prospect of an increase. 

THE ARCTIC SODA-WATER APPARATUS. 

In January, 1884, Mr. William P. Clark established a 
brass-foundery for the manufacture of soda-water appara- 
tus. His products are used exclusively by Mr. James W. 
Tufts, a prominent citizen of Medford, who for twenty 
years has probably been the largest manufacturer of soda- 
water apparatus in this State, if not in New England. 

BAKERIES. 

The first manufacturer of Medford crackers was Con- 
vers Francis. He ser\'ed his apprenticeship to the bak- 
ing-business with Capt. Ebenezer Hall, in Medford. After 
acting as his foreman for some years, he set up for himself 
in Arlington, where he remained two years, when Capt. 
Hall came to him, and proposed that he should return to 
Medford, and take his bakehouse and business, and carry 
it on for himself. This he agreed to do. Thus Mr. 
Francis, in 1797, found himself in Medford, doing a good 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



435 



business in the place of his master. In that business he 
continued till 1818, without intermission, and accumulated 
a handsome property. He believed in progress; and soon 
after he was well established in business here, he bent the 
energies of an active and inventive mind to the work of 
producing a new kind of crackers. He well knew that the 
quality of the flour to be used demanded his first consider- 
ation ; and so skilful did he become in testing that article, 
that he did not regard the marks, or brands, placed upon 
it, neither its popularity in the market. He would tell the 
true quality in a few moments, and was never known to 
select a bad barrel. In the manufacture of his bread, 
every component part was personally examined, and every 
rule most scrupulously complied with. There was a severe 
exactness in each particular, that helped greatly in securing 
the final success. Mr. Francis produced a cracker which 
was considered as more tasteful and healthy than any 
heretofore invented. Every year increased his reputation, 
and widened his business; and, as early as 1805, Medford 
crackers were known through the country, and sometimes 
were sent to foreign lands. As early as 1834 a Medford 
man saw, in a shop-window in London, this sign: ^^ Med- 
ford Crackers!' This bread deserved all the fame it ac- 
quired ; for never had there been any so good, and we 
think there is now none better. Much labor was required 
in making the crackers, and all the work was done without 
the aid of machinery. Each cracker was nearly double 
the size of those now made ; and the dough was kneaded, 
rolled, weighed, pricked, marked, and tossed into the oven, 
by hand. 

The labor of making a barrel of flour into crackers cost 
then nine dollars, and now about three dollars. This 
bread was called crackers, because one of them would 
crack into two equal parts. One piece of dough was rolled 
out just thick enough to enable it to swell up with the 
internal steam generated by baking on the hot brick floor 
of the oven ; and holes enough were pricked into the 
dough to allow a part of the steam to escape, and so leave 
the mass split into two equal parts, adhering mostly by 
the edges. 

Medford has always maintained a high reputation for 
its crackers and bread. 

Mr. Francis was succeeded in business by Mr. Timothy 
Brigden, whose bread was excellent. 



436 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Mr. Timothy Cotting carried on the baking-business in 
this town for nearly half a century, and was very success- 
ful. His place of business was at the corner of Salem and 
Forest Streets; and some of the time he had upon the road 
four or five teams, that went out into surrounding towns. 

There were other bakers in Medford during the first 
half of this century, some of whom did a fair business, 
and made good bread. 

Among them, we name Messrs. Childs & Sawyer, who 
occupied for a few years the old Brigden bake-house, 
already named. After they gave up the business as a 
firm, Mr. Childs continued to sell bread in the neighbor- 
ing towns for a long time. Many of our Medford people 
have pleasant memories of the genial countenance and 
kind words of Nathan Childs, the deaf baker, who went 
from house to house with his ear-trumpet in hand, bound 
to hear precisely what his customers ordered, and sure to 
fill all orders. 

But the man whose bread has been better known in 
this region than that of any other baker, by the present 
generation, is Henry Withington. In 1825 Withington 
& Lane established themselves in the bakery business on 
Salem Street. Mr. Lane retired from the firm after two 
years, and Mr. Withington continued in the business to 
the time of his death, in 1870; but, after 1862, it was 
carried on by his son, the father assisting him. The son, 
Henry Withington, still continues the business ; and it is 
a remarkable fact that father and son have individually or 
unitedly carried on the same enterprise, on the same spot, 
under the name of Henry Withington, for fifty-eight years ; 
and there has been so little change in the general appear- 
ance of the building, inside and outside, that, should the 
customers who removed from town fifty years ago return 
and patronize the son of their former baker, they would 
be at once at home again. 

But, while the building is the same in its general appear- 
ance, the business facilities have kept pace with the in- 
creasing demand for the Withington bread. Horse-power 
was put into the building in 1865, and, in 1870 steam-power 
was employed in the processes by which the flour was pre- 
pared for the oven. In the year last named, a patent 
revolving oven was introduced, by which the process of 
baking is wonderfully facilitated. 

The dough is run through a cylinder, taken upon an 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 437 

apron, and passed along, docked, and taken up, some fifty 
disks at a time, on a peel, or wooden shovel, and put into 
the oven. The oven has such capacity that it could bake 
bread enough for the whole town. 

They make at this house a hundred barrels of crackers 
per week. No one who has visited the bakery will fail to 
recognize the illustration which our artist has here given. 
The building was erected more than two hundred and 
thirty years ago. Long may it stand, and be as honorably 
and successfully occupied in the future as in the past ! 

MEDFORD FLORISTS. 

Mr. Francis Theiler was the first man in Medford who 
made the cultivation of flowers a special vocation. He 
settled first on Highland Avenue ; but, in four years, 
moved into a new house on Fulton Street, where until 
1879, the time of his death, he was actively engaged as a 
florist. He was in the business more than twenty years, 
and until his death. 

Mr. James Bean was the next man to engage in the 
business extensively. He erected his greenhouse on High 
Street in 1861, and continued his delightful and lucrative 
vocation until 1879, when his son George H. Bean became 
his successor, and is still prosecuting the business on a 
liberal scale. 

Mr. John Duane engaged in floriculture about sixteen 
years ago, on High Street, near the depot of the Boston 
and Lowell Railroad, and has to this day prosecuted the 
work of raising flowers for the market, with great success. 
His conservatories are extensive. 

Mrs. George Gill has large greenhouses on Ashland 
Street. The first one, built in 1873, ^^s forty-five feet in 
length. The second, built the following year, was a hun- 
dred feet long. In 1879 ^" addition was made to the 
building, and Mrs. Gill is enjoying a large degree of pros- 
perity in her charming employment. 

A. W. Crockford, on Forest Street, has a greenhouse in 
which are six thousand feet of glass. 

It is estimated that twenty thousand dollars' worth of 
flowers are sold annually by the florists of Medford. 

GAS IN MEDFORD. 

The introduction of gas into Medford was preceded by 
the followins: leirislative action: Maiden and Melrose Gas- 



438 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Liji^ht Company, chartered Feb. 27, 1854; Medford Gas- 
Lii,4-it Company, chartered March 31, 1854; Maiden and 
Medford Gas-Light Company, authorized to unite, April 
29, 1854; Maiden and Medford Gas-Light Company, au- 
thorized to extend their pipes into Medford, June 4, 1856. 
March 4, 1854, it was "voted that the selectmen be 
instructed to cause the streets and town-hall to be lighted 
with gas, in case the Act of Incorporation for a gas-com- 
pany be obtained." May i, 1857, the selectmen were 
instructed to make arrangements with the Maiden and 
Melrose Gas Company to light the town-hall and streets ; 
and gas was introduced into Medford in 1857. 

THE T. p. DRESSER MANUFACTURING COMPANY 

Was organized in 1882, by special charter from the Legis- 
lature. Its factory is on Salem Street. It introduces a 
new branch of business in the place, in the manufacture 
of machine-knit and hand-made worsted goods, and silk 
and woollen mittens of all grades. Infants' wear is a 
specialty. 

STAGE-COACHES. 

In the early years of Medford, the merchants and other 
business-men of Boston lived in, or very near, that city, 
and usually reached their places of business, at an early 
hour, by a cheerful and healthful walk. 

From Cambridge or Charlestown to Boston was consid- 
ered a short distance by the pedestrians of a hundred years 
ago ; and men and women walked from those places into 
the metropolis, and home again, without thinking it an 
inconvenience, much less a hardship. But the residents 
of Medford could not so easily reach Boston. The larger 
number of the men and women in Medford visited the city 
only on urgent occasions. The necessities of the people 
did not often extend beyond the supply which the Medford 
shops, stores, and mills had constantly on hand. A visit 
to Boston for the purpose of shopping was a rare event, 
especially among the poorer classes ; and when it did occur, 
the journey was usually made on foot. 

But that was in the far past. Nearly three-quarters of 
a century ago, Mr. Joseph Wyman, mindful of the more 
intimate business relations of Medford and Boston, and 
of the constantly increasing demand for conveyance to 
and from the great centre of trade, put a coach on the 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 439 

road, to run to and from Boston and Medford once a day;. 
It was a great enterprise, and furnished the chief theme- 
for conversation for many weeks. The coach was adver- 
tised to leave Medford at eight o'clock a.m., and to leave 
Wild's Hotel, No. 1 1 Elm Street, Boston, for Medford, at 
four o'clock P.M. 

The average number of passengers was at first about 
ten, each way. It proved to be a profitable business ; and 
when the proprietor added to it light e.xpressage, it paid 
him handsome returns. 

But the demand for conveyance increased; and in 1836 
Mr. Wyman had an omnibus built expressly for this line, 
at a cost of six hundred dollars. He named it "Gov. 
Brooks," and it made its first trip on the i8th of October 
of that year. This was probably the first omnibus built 
in New England. Eighteen persons could ride inside, and 
six outside. This was a profitable investment ; for it was 
not long before the coach ran over the road twice each 
way daily, and still later three times, and the number of 
passengers averaged fifty to sixty per day. 

The fare was at first thirty-seven and a half cents each 
way, but was finally reduced to twenty-five cents. Mr. 
Wyman was himself the Jehu, and for thirty-four years he 
drove to and from the city twice a day without a single 
serious accident. 

He was a very genial and obliging man; so much so, 
that people would impose upon his good-nature, and some- 
times request him to take on baggage it would be quite 
impossible for him to carry; but they could not provoke 
him to any discourtesy. 

During the time when the fare was twenty-five cents, it 
cost the same sum to send a barrel of flour over the road' 
by the heavy express. A Medford woman, famous for her 
economy, purchased a barrel of flour in the city, and, 
thinking that she might save a penny by sending it home: 
as baggage, asked Mr. Wyman if he would take it ; and 
his reply, courteous to the last, was as follows : " I am 
sorry, madam, that I cannot accommodate you, but I 
have just been applied to for baggage-room for a saw-mill." 

Mr. Wyman was succeeded in this business by Samuel 
S. Blanchard, Amos Hemphill, and Charles Knapp. 

In process of time, as fully noticed in another part of 
this volume, Medford was well provided with a cheaper 
and more rapid means of transit to and from Boston, and 



440 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

the omnibus line to the city was no longer needed. But 
there came a growing demand for a public conveyance 
between Medford and West Medford ; and in March, 1877, 
Cunningham & Co. put on a line of coaches between those 
parts of the town. The enterprise is a great convenience 
to our citizens ; and at the present time the coaches make 
nine trips a day, the fare being only seven cents each way 
per passenger. 

Cunningham & Co. were succeeded by Haynes & Ben- 
nett, who in 1883 were succeeded by George H. Dunck- 
lee, the present proprietor, under whose management the 
business has largely increased, with better accommodations 
for the people. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The "Medford Journal" was the first newspaper pub- 
lished in our town. The first number bore date, Dec. 24, 
1870. It was an eight-column journal, edited and pub- 
lished by James M. Usher. The " Journal " was after- 
wards purchased by Joseph Scott ; in whose hands it 
remained until its publication was discontinued. 

The second newspaper printed in Medford was the 
" Medford Chronicle," a six-column paper, the first issue 
bearing date, January, 1872; edited and published by A. 
B. Morss. 

The third was the "Medford Mercury," an eight-column 
journal, published and edited by Samuel W. Lawrence, 
with George W. Stetson as local editor. The first num- 
ber bore date, Dec. 18, 1880. In January, 1882, Mr. Law- 
rence purchased the " Chronicle," and united it with the 
" Mercury." The paper has a solid foundation, and is 
likely to have a large circulation and a successful career. 

PRINTING-OFFICES, 

The first printing-oflfice in Medford was set up in Sep- 
tember, 1871, by A. B. Morss, and is still owned and suc- 
cessfully conducted by its originator. 

The second was established by F. H. C. Wooley, in 
1878; and after a very brief time, E. F. Peckham & Co. 
succeeded to the business. The latter have recently sold 
out to R. O. Evans, who is prosecuting successfully the 
job-printing work. 

In 1880 Samuel W. Lawrence established a printing- 
office on a more enlarged scale, for his own accommoda- 
tion in the publication of the " Medford Mercury." 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 441 



MEDFORD SAVINGS BANK. 

This institution was organized, under a charter from 
the Legislature, April 12, 1869. Edward Brooks was its 
first president. It has (Nov. i, 1883) 1,726 open accounts ; 
the amount deposited being $453,315.04. Number of 
accounts open for women, 682. The first deposit was 
made May i, 1869, by S. C. Lawrence Post 66, G. A. R., 
as a relief fund. The deposits are made almost entirely 
by residents of the town, and include those from char- 
itable associations, churches, Sunday schools, and relief 
societies. Its affairs have been very prudently and sat- 
isfactorily managed, and it holds a high position among 
institutions of its class in this State. 

D. W. Lawrence, Esq., rendered faithful and able ser- 
vice to the bank, as its treasurer, for a long series of 
years, and resigned in 1885. 

Its first board of officers was as follows : — 

President. — Edward Brooks. 

Vice-Presidents. — Henry Hastings, E. Boynton, jun., J. T. Foster. 

Trustees. — Edward Brooks, B. F. Hayes, D. A. Gleason, Henry 
Hastings, James O. Curtis, R. P. Hallowell, J. P. Richardson, D. W. 
Lawrence, T. S. Harlow, Luther Farwell, T. Magoun, jun., William 
C. Haskins, John Ayres. 

Secretary. — D. W. Lawrence. 

Treasurer. — Herbert Magoun. 

Auditing Committee. — T. S. Harlow, P. C. Hall, A. S. Lincoln. 

Committee of Investment. — J. O. Curtis, Chairman, William C. 
Haskins, Luther Farwell, T. Magoun, jun., D. A. Gleason. 

The officers of the present board are : — 

President. — Henry Hastings. 

Vice-Presidents. — Eleazar Boynton, J. T. Foster, S. C. Lawrence 

Trustees. — B. F. Hayes, D. A. Gleason, James O. Curtis, W. C 
Haskins, F. E. Foster, R. P. Hallowell, J. P. Richardson, C. M. Bar 
rett, Jonas Coburn, John C. Rand, E. Boynton, J. Henry Norcross, J 
Gilman Waite, B. C, Leonard, Daniel W. Wilco.x, Daniel W. LaW' 
fence. 

Clerk. — J. Gilman Waite. 

Treasurer. — Charles B. Buss. 

Auditing Committee. — E. F. Allen, R. B. Lawrence, Fred H 
Kidder. 

Committee of hii'estmeitt. — J. O. Curtis, D. A. Gleason, B. F 
Hayes, William C. Haskins, F. E. Foster. 



442 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

SOCIETIES. 
MASONRY. 

In 1854 the first steps were taken which led to the 
organization of a Masonic Lodge in Medford. In that year 
George Hervey, John T. White, Elbridge G. Ciirrell, 
Charles E. Merrill, Cleopas B. Johnson, William Crook, 
Dr. Samuel Kidder, A. Henry Gardner, Elisha Stetson, 
James Ford, and Thomas R. Peck, under a dispensation 
granted by the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts, 
took the preliminary steps for organizing a lodge ; and on 
the 1 2th of September, 1855, Mount Hcrmon Lodge was 
chartered. 

The Lodge entered at once upon that career of solid 
prosperity which it has since maintained. The following 
gentlemen have served in the office of Master of Mount 
Hermon Lodge, in the order of their names : — 



George Hervey. 
Elisha Stetson. 
Elbridge G. Currell. 
Cleopas B. Johnson, 
Elihu C. Baker. 
Samuel C. Lawrence. 
Benjamin A. Hersey- 
Henry H. Gilmore. 
Charles E. Joyce. 
Nehemiah T. Merritt. 



John Viall. 
Smith B. Harrington. 
Charles D. Archibald. 
Samuel Hall. 
William A. Webber. 
Darius A. Green. 
Herbert A. Reed. 
Edward W. Hayes. 
James F. Hannah. 
A. Byron Reed. 



The present year, 1886, is the twenty-fourth year of 
Parker R. Litchfield's service as Secretary of the Lodge. 

Gen. Samuel C. Lawrence, a member of Mount Hermon 
Lodge, was elected Grand Master of Masons in Massachu- 
setts in 1881, and was re-elected to the same office in 1882 
and 1883. 

June 9, 1863, the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massa- 
chusetts granted to a number of Royal Arch Masons liv- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 443 

ing in Medford and its vicinity a dispensation to organize 
a Chapter under the name of Mystic Chapter of Royal 
ArcJi JMasons. 

The following companions have successively presided 
over the Chapter since it was formally constituted on the 
25th of January, 1864: — 



Daniel W. Lawrence. 
Nehemiah T. Merritt. 
Henry H. Gilmore. 
Benjamin A. Hersey. 
Charles E. Joyce. 
Alfred Haskell. 
Smith B. Harrington. 
Amos B. IVIorss. 
James P. Richardson. 
Charles D. Archibald. 



William A. Webber. 
Darius A. Green. 
Charles H. Prentiss. 
Samuel G. Jepson. 
Samuel C. Lawrence. 
Herbert A. Reed. 
A. Byron Reed. 
J. Gilman Waite. 
William B. Lawrence. 



The excellent spirit which has always pervaded the 
Chapter, and the kindly social relations of its members, 
have given it a strong hold upon the hearts of the brethren. 

In 1869 a number of Royal and Select Masters in 
Masonry, under due authority from the Grand Council, 
organized a Council under the name of Medford Council 
of Royal and Select Masters. 

The highest position in the Council has been occupied 
by the following named gentlemen : — 



Benjamin A. Hersey. 
Alfred Haskell. 
Alvin R. Reed. 



James S. Sturtevant. 
Bernard Born. 
Charles A. T. Bloom. 



The Council has enjoyed a prosperous career, and its 
membership at the present time numbers fifty-two. 

ODD-FELLOWSHIP. 

Harmony Lodge, No. 68, I. O. of O. F., was instituted 
April 4, 1845. At a later date, owing to causes which 
need not be mentioned here, its charter was surrendered 
to the Grand Lodge. In 1874 a revived interest in the 
principles of Odd Fellowship led to an application for a 
new charter, and Harmony Lodge was re-created the 
same year. 

Since the revival of its charter, the Lodge has main- 
tained a prosperous existence ; its affairs have been well 
managed, and its finances are in a sound condition. It 
now numbers one hundred and five members. 



444 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Mount Verno7i Lodge, No. 1 86, I. O. of O. F., was in- 
stituted Sept. 4, 1878, under an application made to the 
Grand Lodge by A, B. Morss and others, residents of 
West Medford. 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 

Satmiel C. Lawrence Post, No. 66. This post was or- 
ganized Sept. 4, 1868. It has had an excellent member- 
ship from the start, and the purposes of its organization 
have been efficiently carried out. It has always main- 
tained a charity fund ; and its aid has been thoughtfully 
extended to the widows and orphans of veterans, and to 
comrades in distress. Under its auspices, the town has 
annually paid reverent observance to Memorial Day. 

The citizens of the town, always kindly disposed toward 
the Post, have contributed most liberally to its charity 
funds, and have given generous aid in furtherance of all 
its plans. With their assistance, the Post was enabled 
to contribute $1,500 to the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea. 

A beautiful and costly banner was presented to the 
Post by Mrs. Samuel C. Lawrence, in 1873. 

The following is a list of the commanders of the Post 
since its orsranization : — 



Godfrey Ryder. 
Pearl Martin. 
John Hutchins. 
Albert A. Samson. 
John S. Beck. 
Horatio N. Peak, jun. 
I. F. R. Hosea. 



J. H. Eames. 
J. Everett Pierce. 
James A. Hervey. 
George L. Goodale. 
John S. Beck. 
Samuel G. Jepson. 



The S. C. Lazvrence Woman s Relief Corps is a society 
auxiliary to the Post, formed by the wives and daughters 
of veterans, and other ladies of the town. Its purpose 
is to assist the Post in its work of charity ; and it has 
rendered valuable aid in visiting the sick and needy, and 
in raising the funds essential to its work. 

MEDFORD COUNCIL, NO. 94, ROYAL ARCANUM. 

This association, organized in May, 1878, is based upon 
a plan of mutual life-insurance. It has a large and re- 
spectable membership, and its affairs have always been 
prudently and successfully managed. Its insurance bene- 
fit is $3,000. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 445 



HOME LODGE, NO. 1 24, KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF HONOR. 

Home Lodge was organized Dec. 31, 1878, with twenty- 
six charter members. The benefit paid on the death of a 
member is $1,000. The membership of this Lodge has 
largely increased since its organization. 

KNIGHTS OF HONOR. 

Mcdford Lodge, No. 2JT, was instituted Feb. 18, 1876, 
and has now a large membership. 

Mystic Lodge, No. 883, was instituted at West Medford, 
Feb. 7, 1878. It started with thirty-seven members, and 
the number has since increased to eighty. 

Under the rules of the Order, from $1,000 to $5,000, 
according to class, is secured to the family of a deceased 
member. 

GOV. BROOKS COUNCIL, NO. 824, AMERICAN LEGION OF 

HONOR. 

This council was chartered Jan. 9, 1882. Its insurance 
benefit is from $1,000 to $3,000, according to class. 

WARREN LODGE, NO. 1 5, ANCIENT ORDER UNITED 
WORKMEN. 

This Lodge was organized Aug. 7, 1879, with a charter 
membership of nineteen. At the present time it has 
sixty-four members. Its insurance benefit is $2,000. 

woman's CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 

Incited by the great and destructive evils of intem- 
perance, and inspired by the philanthropic labors of the 
faithful men and women who have toiled for its suppres- 
sion, twenty-nine women gathered at Temperance Hall in 
Medford, June 26, 1878, and formed a society under the 
above name, auxiliary to the Womaiis CJiristian Temper- 
ance Union of the State. 

Their number soon increased to upwards of sixty, and 
some of the most public-spirited ladies of the town were 
heartily engaged in the work of the organization. 

The plan of action embraces several distinct forms of 
effort, among which are the following : The circulation of 
temperance literature, in tracts, pamphlets, and books ; the 



446 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

procuring of temperance lectures ; and the instruction of 
children in temperance principles, by exercises calculated 
to enlist their sympathies in the temperance cause. 

This organization has circulated petitions asking for 
temperance legislation, and in other ways has been active 
in opposing the reign of alcohol in this Commonwealth. 

Its meetings are held once a week, and are devoted 
to devotional exercises, readings, discussions, written 
essays, and other papers, by its members, and to various 
kinds of work in aid of the cause. 

A large amount of valuable work has been done by the 
ladies of this Union. Indeed, the hope of the temperance 
cause, at this time, is largely in the organizations of which 
noble and self-sacrificins: women have charge. 



SINGING SOCIETIES AND BANDS. 

As early as 1835 a social singing society was organized 
in Medford. The members were J. Jordan, William Peak, 
John Stimson, Alexander Gregg, Joshua T. Foster, E. W. 
Chamberlain, John H. Haskell, Dr. S. W. Gregg, Elisha 
Stetson, Samuel Teel, jun., M. W. Horner, Moses Hamil- 
ton, Thomas W. Oliver, Charles Ewell, Alden Brooks, A. 
Ells, together with a goodly number of ladies. 

One of the number, William Peak, afterwards became 
famous all over the country as the head of the " Peak 
F^amily" of Medford, which won great popularity under the 
name of the " Swiss Bell-ringers." 

More than forty years ago Medford had an organized 
and a very efficient band of about twenty pieces, brought 
together through the influence of J. Jordan, who was its 
first leader. 

The Medford Cornet Band was organized June 9, 1870. 
There were at first but five members; but the organization 
increased in numbers, and March 17, 1871, made its first 
public appearance, with Frank A. Hadley as leader. 

The five original members were F. A. Hadley, I. F. R. 
Hosea, jun., D. C. Cooper, C. O. Wheeler, and S. W. 
James ; and to these thirty-three were afterwards added. 

The " Mystic Brass Band of Medford " was organized 
Oct. 16, 1870, with thirteen members, with Henry Jordan 
as its first teacher. 

On the 6th of March, 1873, the Mystic Brass Band and 
the Cornet Band were united under the name of the 
" Medford Band." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 447 

The " Medford Band " was very popular, its services 
were sought from every part of the country, and it gained 
a wide and honorable reputation. 

In March, 1882, the band removed its headquarters to 
Boston, and since that time it has borne the name of the 
"Boston City Band." 

IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES. 

The Village Improvement Society of West Medford was 
organized in 1882. Its objects are the improvement of 
the place in sanitary regulations, tree-planting, architec- 
ture, gardening, streets and sidewalks. It instituted a 
course of lectures in 1882-83-84, which were well attended 
and highly appreciated. 

Similar societies have since been organized in the cen- 
tre of the town, and in Glen wood, having the same objects 
in view ; and all are working together harmoniously for 
the general good. 



448 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 
REV. CHARLES BROOKS. 

Charles Brooks, the author of the History of Med- 
ford, was born in this town, Oct. 30, 1795. His parents 
were Jonathan and Elizabeth (Albree) Brooks. He en- 
tered Harvard College in 181 2, and was graduated in 
1 8 16. For a short time he was a reader in the Episcopal 
Church, to which his tastes and sentiments had drawn 
him ; but a conviction that Christianity as expounded by 
Ware and Channing was more conformable to truth led 
him to adopt the views of the Unitarians. 

He terminated his professional studies in the theologi- 
cal school of Harvard College in 1819; and preached his 
first sermon in Medford, in the meeting-house in which he 
was baptized in infancy. He was ordained as pastor of 
the Third Congregational Society in Hingham in 1821, 
and had a very active and successful pastorate there. He 
was an earnest worker in various good ways. He took an 
active interest in the cause of peace, and in the tem- 
perance reform, and was an early and constant friend 
of popular education. He was the first person to intro- 
duce the burning of anthracite coal into Hingham, and is 
entitled to the honor of starting the project of a line of 
steamboats between Boston and that place. 

In 1833 Mr. Brooks visited Europe, and made the 
acquaintance of many distinguished persons there. He 
gave much attention to the Prussian system of education, 
and on his return home lectured extensively on the im- 
portance of education in our own country. The results 
of his labor were the establishment of boards of educa- 
tion and normal schools. In 1838 he was elected pro- 
fessor of natural history in the University of the City of 
New York, and the next year closed his pastorate at Hing- 







^ 



^'^^^^V'^V^J^i-^-^'^ 




HISTORY OF MED FORD. 449 

ham. He subsequently spent four years in Europe, and 
on his return devoted himself to scientific studies, andi 
such as he deemed of importance to him in his professors- 
ship, until the failure of his sight compelled him to leave 
his profession, and retire to private life. 

Mr. Brooks was quite a voluminous writer. In his early 
ministry he published a prayer-book, which had a very 
extensive circulation. His " History of the Town of 
Medford " was published in 1855, and is a work of careful 
research, evincing a rare knowledge of life and manners 
in the old Colonial times. His enthusiastic love for his 
native town, and his familiarity with local traditions, many 
of which had come down to him through ancestral chan-- 
nels, especially fitted him for such a task. The book was 
one of the earliest contributions to a knowledge of New- 
England munici[ial history, and has been followed by a 
long line of similar works. Later in life, he turned his 
attention to the condition of aged and destitute clergy- 
men, and was instrumental in the foundation of a society 
for their relief. 

He was twice married; in 1827, to Miss Celia Williams 
of Brooklyn, Conn., who died in Hingham in 1837 ; and 
in 1839, to Mrs. Charlotte Ann H. Lord of Portsmouth, 
N. H., who died in that city in November, 1869. Mr. 
Brooks died in Medford, July 7, 1872, at the age of seventy- 
six years. He was a studious, scholarly, and high-minded 
man, clear in his judgment, genial and affable in disposi- 
tion ; and, to a life of practical benevolence, he added the 
graces of a Christian character. 



LIEUT.-GOV. JOHN USHER. 

In Drake's " History of Middlesex County," Mr. John 
Usher is spoken of as the most noted citizen of Medford, 
in the early part of the eighteenth century. He inherited 
some property from his father, and increased it by success- 
ful business, first as a bookseller in Cornhill, Boston (on 
the very spot afterwards long occupied for the same pur- 
pose by the writer of this history), and afterwards in for- 
eign trade. He was a councillor under Gov. Dudley, and 
councillor and treasurer under Gov. Andros. He was son- 
in-law of Samuel Allen, a London merchant, who bought 
out the claims of the Mason heirs to the proprietorship of 
New Hampshire. .He was made lieutenant-governor there 



45 O HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

in 1692, and had many severe contests with the settlers. 
He held office at intervals, after going to Massachusetts 
and to England, until 171 5, when he was displaced, and 
withdrew to Medford, where he died, Sept. 25, 1726. His 
widow sold his estate of five hundred and four acres and 
his house to Col. Royal, Dec. 26, 1733, for $10,350. He 
left a son. Rev. John Usher (H.C. 17 19), a clergyman at 
Bristol, R.I., whose son was also ordained ; and descend- 
ants are still living in that State. An own cousin to 
Lieut.-Gov, Usher was Robert Usher of Dunstable, who 
left descendants, one of whom, Robert, moved to Medford, 
where he died Oct. 13, 1793. His son, Eleazer Usher, 
born in Medford, 1770, was the father of the writer of this 
history ; also of Roland G. Usher, late United-States 
Marshal for Massachusetts, and now (1886) warden of the 
State Prison. 

REV. EDWARD BROOKS. 

Edward Brooks, the third son of Samuel and Mary 
(Boutwell) Brooks, was born in Medford, Nov. 4, 1733. 
He graduated at Harvard College, 1757. He married, 
Sept. 23, 1764, Abigail, daughter of Rev. John Brown of 
Haverhill. Her mother was Joanna Cotton, the great- 
grand-daughter of John Cotton the famous Puritan divine. 
After graduation, Mr. Brooks remained at Cambridge for 
a short time as librarian of the college. The first notice 
of his preaching is in Seccomb's "Journal," April 25, 
1762. In 1764 he was called to the church at North Yar- 
mouth, Me., where he remained five years. Willis, the 
historian of Portland, says, "The cause of Mr. Brooks's 
dismissal was a difference of religious opinion : he was 
inclined to more liberal views than his people were accus- 
tomed to hear." After leaving North Yarmouth, he re- 
turned, in 1769, to his native town of Medford; and, from 
the records, occasionally preached for the Rev. Mr. Turell. 
He hastened, as a volunteer, to the " Concord Fight," in 
1775. In an address by the Hon. Edward Everett at 
Concord, in 1825, he mentions the exploit of the capture 
of a convoy belonging to the relief party of Lord Percy, 
which has been ascribed to Mr. Brooks, but which he 
thinks does not belong to him. He, however, took an 
active part in the business of the day ; and he preserved 
the life of Lieut. Gould of the Eleventh Regiment, who 
was wounded on the retreat at the Concord Brigde. 




^ 1 iS^^ 






HISTORY OF MED FORD. 45 I 

His son, Peter Chardon Brooks, wrote of him : — 

" He (Rev. Edward Brooks) was a high Son of Liberty. He went 
over to Lexington on the 19th April, 1775, on horseback, with his 
gun on his shoulder, and in his full-l)Ottomed wig. I remember it 
well. I was eight years old, and frightened enough at hearing the 
guns at Menotomy (now Arlington), and seeing them glisten, from 
our garret-window. Those were times that tried men's souls, but not 
their purses : for they had none. They were as poor as rats." 

In 1777, being out of health, Mr. Brooks went as chap- 
lain of the frigate " Hancock," thirty-two guns, commanded 
by Capt. Manly. They sailed on a cruise to the eastward ; 
and, in the month of May, fell in with and captured the 
frigate " Fox," twenty-eight guns. Manning the prize, 
and proceeding off Halifax, the British fleet captured the 
" Hancock," re-took the prize, and carried them into 
Halifax. 

While confined there on parole, he took the small-pox, 
the marks of which he ever after carried with him. After 
being released, he returned to Medford. An account of 
this capture may be found in the " Boston Gazette " of 
1777. The health of Mr. Brooks was shattered; and he 
died May 6, 1781, aged forty-eight. His wife died, Nov, 
29, 1800. 

PETER CHARDON BROOKS, 1ST. 

Peter Chardon Brooks, the son of Rev. Edward Brooks 
and Abigail (Brown) Brooks, was born in North Yarmouth, 
Me., Jan. 6, 1767, and died in Boston, Jan. i, 1849. He 
married, Nov. 26, 1792, Ann, daughter of Hon. Nathaniel 
Gorham of Charlestown. 

Mr. Brooks was brought up on the farm at Medford. 
When of age, he went to Boston, and soon established 
himself in the insurance business, in State Street, at the 
corner of Kilby Street. His first office was in the "Bunch 
of Grapes " tavern, where the New-England Bank now 
stands. This was before the incorporation of public insur- 
ance offices ; and all underwriting was done by individuals 
at private offices, of which there were but three at that 
time in the town. He continued in business about fifteen 
years, or until about 1804, when he retired, and after- 
wards passed his summers at Medford in agricultural [)ur- 
suits, of which he was fond. The house he first occupied 
in Boston was on the corner of Congress and Water 
Streets, where the " Simmons Block " now stands. Mr. 



452 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Brooks was often called to the discharge of important 
public and private trusts. He was several times in the 
State Senate, a member of the Constitutional Convention 
of 1820, and a member of the first city council in 1822, at 
the organization of the first city government of Boston. 
For a period of about ten years he was in the House of 
Representatives, Senate, and Council Chamber. 

While in business as an underwriter, generally on ma- 
rine risks, he laid the foundation of his fortune. 

His name, Peter Chardon (Pierre Chardon), was taken 
from that of an intimate friend and classmate of his father, 
who was of one of the Huguenot families that came from 
France to this country about 1685. Peter Chardon, sen., 
lived in Bowdoin Square, at the corner of the street bear- 
ing his name, and where the Baptist Church now stands. 
He died March, 1775, aged seventy-two. 

A memoir of Mr. Brooks by his son-in-law, Hon. Edward 
Everett, was published in the "New-England Historical 
and Genealogical Register" for 1854-55, and subsequently 
in the "Merchants' Magazine," "Hunt's Lives of Ameri- 
can Merchants," and in Mr. Everett's works, vol. v. 

EDWARD BROOKS. 

The subject of our present sketch was the eldest son of 
the Hon. Peter C. Brooks of Medford. He was born in 
Boston, in 1793, and, during the later years of his life, 
was a resident of this town. He died in Medford in 1878, 
aged eighty-four years. Mr. Brooks graduated at Harvard, 
in the class of 18 12, and studied law in the office of the 
Hon. Benjamin Gorham, his uncle. 

In the years 1834-37 and 1842, he represented the city 
of Boston in the State Legislature. 

In the early stages of the temperance agitation he was 
its ardent supporter. He aided Dr. Howe with all his 
energy in establishing the Perkins Institution for the 
Blind. 

He was the first president of the General Theological 
Library, in which he took an eager interest. 

The Boston Public Library owes to him an original 
portrait of Franklin, by Duplessis. The grammar school 
in West Medford is indebted to his liberality and interest. 
The school bears his name. 




.^. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 453 

GORHAM BROOKS. 

Gorham Brooks, the second son of Peter Chardon 
Brooks, was born in Medford, Feb. 10, 1795. He pre- 
pared for college at Phillips Academy, and graduated at 
Harvard University in the class of 18 14. He studied law 
in the office of Hon. Joseph Lyman of Northampton ; but, 
not finding the legal profession congenial to his tastes, 
he soon abandoned it for mercantile pursuits. 

He was married, in 1829, to the daughter of Mr. R. D. 
Shepherd of Shepherdstown, Va. In 1833, he became a 
member of the business-firm of W. C. Mayhew & Co., in 
Baltimore, Md., and afterwards of the firm of Brooks and 
Harrison, of the same city, where he resided for several 
years. 

In 1840, he returned to Massachusetts, and lived upon 
the farm adjoining his father's, in Medford, and in the 
house that was built by his great-grandfather, Samuel 
Brooks; devoting the last fifteen years of his life largely to 
agricultural pursuits, for which he had a great fondness. 

Mr. Brooks was a highly intellectual man, a great reader, 
and, having a retentive memory, was well informed upon 
nearly all historical and literary matters. His conversa- 
tional powers were brilliant. Humor sparkled in his most 
quiet and ordinary sayings ; and hours spent in his society 
were replete with entertainment and instruction. 

In politics he was a stanch Democrat. He had no de- 
sire to be prominent in his party. He sought no position 
in public life ; although, in 1847, he was induced to repre- 
sent his town in the House of Representatives. 

Mr. Brooks died Sept. 10, 1855, leaving a widow and 
two sons. His sons are Peter C. Brooks and Shepherd 
Brooks, who now reside in houses which they built on 
their father's estate, near the Winchester town-line. 

PETER CHARDON BROOKS, 2D. 

Peter Chardon Brooks, the fifth child and fourth son of 
Peter C. and Ann (Gorham) Brooks, was born in Boston, 
Aug. 26, 1798, and died there June 3, 1880. Early, as 
well as late in his married life, he was a householder in 
Boston ; but for many years after his mother's death, he 
lived with his father in Medford and Boston. Mr. Brooks 
was educated at Phillips Academy, E.xeter. As a mer- 



454 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

chant and ship-owner, he was for several years in business 
on Central Wharf, Boston, of the firm of Sargent & 
Brooks. He was a quiet man, of simple tastes, reserved 
habits, bluff, hearty manners, strong but undemonstrative 
feelings, clear convictions, conservative, but unobtrusive. 
Though he took no part in public affairs, he was intelli- 
gently acquainted with them, and in a private, silent way, 
helped what was best in society. He was a man of pro- 
fuse benevolence. A Unitarian, and a member of the old 
First Church of Boston, where he was baptized Sept. 2, 
1798, he was devoted to all the duties of his membership. 
He married, early in life, Miss Susan Oliver Heard of 
Boston, but had no children. 

Much might be said, did space allow, of this representa- 
tive gentleman of the old school ; but his character has 
been indicated in what has been here written ; and more 
has been said than, in his modesty, he would have cared 
to see in print. 

DR. DANIEL SWAN. 

Dr. Swan was a native of Charlestown, Mass., and was 
born Feb. 28, 1781. He was unfortunate in his youth; 
his health having been greatly impaired by a severe at- 
tack of small-pox when he was thirteen years old ; and 
through life he suffered from lameness, the result of a fall 
in his childhood. 

He graduated at Harvard College, in the class of 1803, 
and soon after engaged in teaching the only public school 
for boys in Medford, to which town his father had previ- 
ously removed. 

Among his pupils in that school, were some famous lads, 
known afterwards as Dr. David Osgood, Dr. Convers 
Francis, and Rev. Charles Brooks, the author of the first 
History of Medford. These men always spoke of him in 
words of sincere and loving admiration, feeling that they 
owed to the young schoolmaster, in no small degree, their 
scholarly attainments and success in life. 

But teaching was not to be his life-work ; and after a 
few years he made choice of the profession of medicine, 
and studied with Dr. John Brooks, then the resident phy- 
sician of Medford. He improved all the advantages to be 
derived from such association with that skilful and distin- 
guished physician, and commenced practice in Brighton, 
in the year 1808, where, for eight years, he enjoyed the 
confidence and esteem of the community. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 455 

In 1 8 16 Dr. Brooks was elected Governor of the Com- 
monwealth, and the inhabitants of Medford invited Dr. 
Swan to become his successor as physician. The young 
physician, appreciating the handsome compliment, ac- 
cepted the invitation, and at once entered upon a large 
and lucrative practice. 

On the 25th of May, 1821, Dr. Swan was married by 
Rev. Andrew Bigelow, to Miss Sarah Preston, whose 
acquaintance he made during professional visits at the 
home of her father, Mr. Remember Preston, a gentleman 
of large wealth. 

In 1826 Mr. Preston died, and Dr. Swan, through his 
wife, came into possession of a large fortune; and, as he 
had no children, he began a work of systematic benevo- 
lence, which was as liberal as it was discriminating, and 
which continued while he lived. 

Early in his practice, his attention was directed to the 
system of medical practice known as homoeopathy, and 
it won his approval. He soon was an enthusiastic advo- 
cate of the new philosophy of medicine, and in his prac- 
tice demonstrated its efficacy. 

He had great faith in the health-preserving potency of 
sunshine; and he deprecated the practice of darkening 
rooms, and multiplying shade-trees near dwellings. He 
believed, also, in the sunshine of the face and heart ; and 
he carried it with him into the homes of his patients, 
where he was welcomed not only as the " beloved physi- 
cian," but as the generous benefactor. During the last 
period of his professional work, he made no charge for 
his services; and when he found that he must retire from 
general practice, he continued to prescribe for the poor at 
his own house. 

He was a much-esteemed member of the Massachusetts 
Homoeopathic Society, and also of the Massachusetts Medi- 
cal Society ; and though many physicians differed with 
him theoretically, they all accorded to him conscientious 
convictions and great skill in his profession. 

Dr. Swan did not limit his charities to the field of his 
duties as a physician. His love of country was strong 
and active. He contributed liberally to sustain the gov- 
ernment during the Rebellion, and to mitigate the suffer 
ings of those who went forth to uphold the flag. Indeed, 
his charities always flowed in a steady and well-directed 
current. He gave money, fuel, raiment, and provisions, 



456 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

according to the need of the recipients. On Thanksgiv- 
ing Day, it was his custom to carry or send to the deserv- 
ing poor in his neighborhood, something substantial and 
welcome for their tables; and it may be truly said of him, 
"His heart was in his hands." 

When he could do so, without neglecting his patients, 
he was a regular attendant on religious service. He gave 
the land on which the First Parish of Medford built its 
parsonage. He had cheerful views of the future life, and 
was a true friend of liberal Christianity. In a memorial 
sermon by Rev. E. C. Towne, special mention was made 
of the breadth of his religious views. His soul was too 
loving and hopeful to doubt of the final outcome of God's 
plan of salvation ; and his heart throbbed in sympathy 
with all sincere believers, of whatever church. His aim 
was to glorify God by an active and sympathetic fellow- 
ship with man. 

After arriving to manhood, he enjoyed a fair degree of 
health, until within a fortnight of his decease. He died 
Dec. 5, 1864, in the eighty-fourth year of his age ; and an 
immense concourse of relatives and friends followed his 
body to the grave. He left a handsome bequest to the 
" Secomb Fund," for the benefit of the poor, which act 
was duly noticed in the Town Report of 1865. 

DUDLEY HALL. 

Dudley Hall, the eldest son of Benjamin and Lucy 
(Tufts) Hall, was a citizen of Medford deservedly es- 
teemed. He was born in Medford, Oct. 14, 1780, and 
was educated in the public schools of the town. He was 
a business man of broad ideas and thoroughly honest 
purposes. In his earlier years he was prominent in the 
public affairs of the town, and throughout his life was 
warmly interested in its prosperity. He was a friend of 
the friendless in life, and left something substantial at his 
death for their benefit, as has been noticed elsewhere. He 
died Nov. 3, 1868. 

GALEN JAMES. 

The second of twelve children, Galen James was born in 
Scituate, Sept. 29, 1790. Soon after turning his twenty- 
fiist year, he came to Medford to acquire the art of ship- 
building in the yard and under the eye of the late 
Thatcher Mairoun. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 457 

Having learned his trade, he aspired to embark in the 
business on his own account; and accordingly, in 1816, 
he formed a co-partnership with the late Isaac Sprague, 
which continued for many years, till, in 1842, they 
launched "The Altorf," their sixty-sixth vessel, and last. 

Though financially successful in business, he had, all 
the while, a higher aim than the bare making of money. 
To this his many apprentices, and the men with whom he 
dealt, would amply testify. Obedient to the principle that 
no man should live for himself alone, he devoted much 
time to the affairs of the town and of the church, and was 
deeply interested in all the philanthropic movements of 
his time. Conscience, enlightened by habitual study of 
the Divine Word, and by a deep sense of human need, was, 
in all his undertakings, the guide which he followed, and 
with such resolution and zeal as usually insured success. 

His independent thinking, his originality, his foresight, 
his faith, and his courage fitted him better to lead men 
than to follow them. His aims and his plans were some- 
what in advance of his time; and whether applied to mor- 
als, education, or religion, his motto was "Excelsior." He 
early espoused the then unpopular cause of temperance, 
and pleaded stoutly for total abstinence and prohibition. 

Not satisfied with the educational appointments of the 
day, he boldly pleaded with the town of his adoption to do 
better by its offspring than 'other towns were doing by 
theirs ; and to establish a free school where the sexes 
could enjoy equal advantages in the pursuit of the higher 
branches of education. As it would add one-half to the 
school-tax of the town, the project was at first vigorously 
opposed ; but Deacon James, with one or two others alike 
progressive, large-hearted, and philanthropic, so insisted 
upon the utility of the scheme, that, as an outgrowth of 
the discussion, our high school, almost the first of the 
more than a hundred and seventy like institutions now 
supported in the State, was established in 1835. 

For many years he served with marked efficiency upon 
the board of school committee ; and, in his old age, was 
justly honored in having one of the new town schools 
called by his name. He also, for some years, served the 
town as chairman of the board of selectmen, and in various 
other important capacities. 

He early united with the only church then existing in 
Medford; and, in 1824, was prominent in the small colony 



458 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

which went out therefrom to found the Second Congrega- 
tional, afterward called the First Trinitarian Congregational 
Church of Medford. His remarkable familiarity with the 
Scriptures, his habit of terse and clear explanation, and 
his skill in making practical application of the truth, made 
him a most interesting and successful superintendent and 
teacher in the Sunday school. 

In practical benevolence he had but few rivals. Prac- 
tising the most becoming economy in his personal and 
family expenses, he dealt out his income with a lavish 
hand for the poor, the ignorant, the benighted, and the 
afflicted. Besides contributing generously to sustain his 
own church, his purse was opened freely to other churches 
and to other denominations ; and those soliciting benefac- 
tions seldom left his door with empty hands. 

In 1848, though once having retired from business, he 
was led to embark in a new and very responsible enter- 
prise. His strong convictions that the presentation of 
truth should be direct, clear, pungent, and earnest, com- 
pelled him to feel that the religious press of the day 
was not speaking out as boldly and strongly upon many 
vital questions as it should do. And there came before 
his mind the possibility of a publication that would fulfil 
his ideal of what a weekly religious paper ought to be. 
To supply that need, he, after consulting with competent 
advisers in the ministry, established "The Congregation- 
alist" in Boston; and, with Deacon Edward W. Fay of 
Medford as a business partner, issued. May 24, 1849, the 
first number of what, before he left it, became the leading 
organ of his denomination in New England. He risked 
in the enterprise a large sum of money; and, for several 
years, reaped no pecuniary return. His wisdom and his 
perseverance, however, at length prevailed. Though he 
never attempted to write the editorials of his paper, he 
chose its editors with his usual discrimination ; and it is 
but justice to say that everyone of them greatly respected 
his practical wisdom, and sought his judgment upon all 
the important articles that were published in the paper. 

After the death of Deacon Fay in 1855, he took in two 
competent business partners ; and then, as the weight of 
his years increased, he gradually withdrew from the man- 
agement of the paper till about 1866, when he relinquished 
it altogether. 

May 26, 18 1 7, Deacon James married Miss Mary Rand 





/-t>^^^L^ 





/C<^^^t>t>^^^z-t.S^ 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 459 

Turner, a daughter of the Hon. Charles Turner of Scitu- 
ate. She bore him eight children, all of whom, except 
the late Rev. Horace James and Mrs. Matilda T. Haskins, 
died in early childhood. The devoted mother followed 
her six little ones, Dec. 13, 1831 ; and, on May 15, 1833, 
he married Miss Amanda Jacobs, also of Scituate, and an 
aunt of the late Hon. Charles Sumner. After her decease, 
which occurred Feb. 23, 1871, he lived with his daughter, 
at whose house he died, April 14, 1879, i^^ the eighty-ninth 
year of his age, terminating there a life of usefulness such 
as is very rarely seen. Though he has passed from our 
sight, the eloquence of his life is still with us ; and the 
voice of his benevolence, his zeal, his faith, his self-denial, 
his love to God and his sympathy for man, urges on the 
living to a like nobility of purpose and of action. 

GEORGE LUTHER STEARNS. 

In the parish register of Nayland, county of Suffolk, 
Eng., is recorded the baptism of two little girls, — Mary, 
born Jan. 6, 1626, and Anna, born Oct. 5, 1628 ; daugh- 
ters of Isaac Stearns, who with his wife, on the 12th of 
April, 1630, embarked for America in the "Arbella," fel- 
low passengers with Gov. Winthrop, Rev. George Phillips, 
Sir Richard Saltonstall, and others of ."The Massachu- 
setts Company." ' It is pleasant also to remember that 
with them came Edward Garfield, ancestor of our revered 
President Garfield. 

Of this number. Sir Richard Saltonstall, Edward Gar- 
field, and Isaac Stearns settled in Watertown, near what 
is now Mount Auburn, and were admitted freemen May 
18, 163 1, — which. Dr. Bond says, was the earliest date of 
any such admission. Isaac Stearns was selectman seve- 
ral years, and held other offices of trust. His will, with 
autograph signature, is to be found on the files of the 
probate-ofifice of Middlesex County, and shows a goodly 
estate for that early time. 

In the fifth direct generation from Isaac Stearns, we 
find Hon. Josiah Stearns of Lunenburg, Mass., who was 
born March 28, 1750. In 1775 he commanded a company 
of fifty men from Lunenburg, and until the close of the 
century served his country with singular liberality and 
devotion, — always in public life. In 1776 he was one 

^ Dr. Bond's History of Watertown. 



460 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

of the "Committee of Correspondence,"' a position of 
exceptional trust and responsibility. The epitaph on his 
grave at Lunenburg records the fidelity and superiority 
of his character and public services. He died in 1822. 

Dr. Luther Stearns, oldest child of Hon. Josiah Stearns, 
was born at Lunenburg, Feb. 17, 1770. He entered Dart- 
mouth College, but was graduated from Harvard Univer- 
sity in 1 791, receiving his degree from both Dartmouth 
and Harvard. He was tutor in Harvard College ; and 
subsequently studied medicine with Dr. John Brooks of 
Medford, who relinquished his practice to his favorite 
pupil and cherished friend, when he was elected Governor 
of Massachusetts. 

He was a man of large views and generous nature ; 
honored for his virtues and fine scholarship. His sympa- 
thetic and sensitive temperament made surgical opera- 
tions terrible to him, unrelieved as they then were by 
modern anaesthetics. The strain upon his nerves forced 
him to relinquish his profession, in which he had secured 
distinction and honors from Harvard. 

His classical scholarship and elevated character signally 
qualifietl him for the duties of teacher ; and the school he 
established in Medford became the leading academy of the 
United States. 

In December, 1799, he married Mary Hall, daughter of 
Col. Willis Hall of Medford. Her grandfather was the 
Hon. Stephen Hall, who for many years represented the 
town in the Provincial Congress, — a man of pronounced 
character and influence. His granddaughter Mary inher- 
ited many of his characteristics ; and the sudden death 
of Dr. Stearns summoned all the strength and fortitude of 
her character to the formidable task of continuing the 
large school, then at the top of its prosperity. Bravely 
she grappled with the financial, domestic, and other prob- 
lems, bringing them, finally, to successful issues. 

She was left with three children : viz., Elizabeth Hall, 
born Feb. 14, 1806, who died unmarried. in early woman- 
hood ; George Luther, born Jan. 8, 1809; and Henry 
Laurens, who was born March 30, 181 2, and died unmar- 
ried in June, 1859. 

The death of Mrs. Stearns occurred in June, 1853, at 
the advanced age of eighty-three years. 

It is not possible, within the limits of this work, to do 

' See Life of Samuel Adams. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 46 1 

any thing like justice to the character and public services 
of George Luther Stearns. Neither is selection of parts 
an easy task, where the whole is rich in values. He was 
well born and well bred, — a gentleman in the original 
significance of the word. The source of his power was 
a great conscience, and an absolute inability to do any 
thing for merely selfish ends ; an idealist, who put thought 
into deed ; such as make the heroes of history, and the 
poet's verse. 

We first see him a fair, rosy child, with beautiful brown 
eyes and sunny hair, singing all day long, — " irrepressibly 
happy," his mother used to say, and of tireless activity. 
He was only eleven years old when his father died, — 
a calamity which deprived him of his best friend, and a 
university education for which careful training had nearly 
prepared him. He never lost the memory of this desolat- 
ing grief. A gravity and seriousness succeeded to that 
early joy, and remained a marked characteristic of man- 
ner, veiling but not concealing the perennial cheerfulness 
and unfailing hope which were a tower of strength to 
himself and others in the subsequent pinches of life. 
After two or three years at school, he was placed as store- 
boy in the mercantile house of Henry Chapman, State 
Street, Boston, and while a clerk was associated with Rev. 
R. C. Waterston and Miss E. R Peabody, in the Bethel 
Sunday school, and city missions ; at the same time ten- 
derly caring for his widowed mother and his younger 
brother. The sensitive delicacy inherited from his father 
was re-enforced by the energy and courage of his mother; 
and underlying all, was a profoundly religious nature. His 
sweetness and generosity won all hearts, while his nobility 
and integrity of character drew to him the respect and 
confidence of all communities where he was known. The 
period from his father's death to successful establishment 
in business was one of unceasing struggle, not seldom of 
bitter trial. 

The date of his marriage with Mary Ann Train, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Train of Medford, is not at hand ; but it 
must have been somewhere from his twenty-seventh to 
thirtieth year. 

After her death, about 1840, he became one of the 
firm of Albert Fearing & Co., No. i. City Wharf, Boston. 
At the age of thirty-four he married Mary E., daughter 
of Hon. Warren Preston of Bangor, Me. Their children 



462 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

were, Henry Laurens, born Nov. 29, 1844; Francis Pres- 
ton, born Jan. 4, 1846, who was graduated from Harvard 
University in 1867 ; and Carl, born June 26, 1854, and 
who died Dec. 7, 1877. 

In April, 1845, he established his residence on the 
handsome site opposite Tufts College, devoting his leisure 
to its improvement in orchards and garden. He delighted 
in trees and flowers, in fields of waving grain, in fine cat- 
tle and horses. The magnetism of character drew around 
him the best culture of the country ; while his doors stood 
wide open to exiles, and the oppressed of all lands, and 
within them the hunted slave found security and peace. 
To use the words of Samuel Johnson, " The leaders of 
thought took counsel together at his board. Personally 
intimate with scholars, artists, philosophers, religious re- 
formers, he mediated between the best American thought, 
and the popular life which awaits this as its own natural 
expression." 

About 1845 he withdrew from the firm of Albert Fear- 
ing & Co., and engaged in the manufacture of lead-pipe 
and sheet-lead. The machinery which he invented gave 
him a certain advantage over all that kind of production 
in the United States. The perfection of the work, to- 
gether with the liberality and integrity of his methods, 
placed him at the head of that business in New England. 
"Wealth honorably earned flowed into his hands, by natu- 
ral attractions to right uses ; and no man ever rendered 
such constant help as he did, public and private, with less 
demonstration, or even of pause to notice what he did. 
His benefactions were incessant and unstinted: we can- 
not remember them, for he allowed no record. When 
asked by the Senate Committee how much he had given 
John Brown, he replied, 'I cannot tell: I keep no account 
of what I give to others.' But his best gift, after all, was 
the meaning \.\\?X citizenship acquired in him ; a republican 
faith that ventured every thing on the fidelity of the 
people, and guarded their right and honor as men adore a 
revelation." 3 

But the hour was at hand when right must be more 
beautiful than private affection. The passage of the Fu- 
gitive Slave Bill in 1850; the abrogation of the Missouri 
Compromise, three years later, speedily followed by the 
"Kansas-Nebraska Act," opening that vast territory to 

^ Samuel Johnson in The Radical, 186;?. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 463 

slavery, — alarmed all sane persons for the safety of free 
institutions. Instant and incessant, from that time for- 
ward, were the labors of Mr. Stearns, — "without haste, 
and without rest." 

During the last week of May, 1856, Charles Sumner 
was struck down in the Senate Chamber of the United 
States, by Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina, for words 
spoken in debate ; and the town of Lawrence in the Terri- 
tory of Kansas was burned by the emissaries of slavery 
from Missouri. The excitement in Boston was at white 
heat. A meeting was called for the relief of Kansas, in 
Faneuil Hall, which resulted in the formation of a com- 
mittee to obtain funds in aid of the Free-state settlers. 
On the spur of the moment, some eighteen thousand to 
twenty thousand dollars was collected, chiefly in large 
sums. Very soon the work stopped, and nothing more 
came of it. With this committee, Mr. Stearns worked from 
the first ; but seeing the pressing need of more active and 
extended operations, and being willing to devote all his 
time to the cause, he was unanimously chosen chairman of 
the Massachusetts State Kansas Committee, which then 
took the place of that first appointed, and continued and 
extended the work throughout the State. In five months, 
chiefly through his exertions, the contributions amounted 
to forty-eight thousand dollars in money, and about thirty 
thousand dollars more in clothing and other supplies. 
This organization of the State for aid was compelled, it 
must be confessed, by the apathy which followed the first 
impulse of sympathy and generosity. Merchants said, 
"We have given, and we will not give any more." '^ Two 
or three times, successively, the "committee " failed to 
appear at the appointed time and place, its chairman 
alone being present ; then his efforts were directed to the 
country towns. The treasury was supplied by thousands 
advanced from his private resources, and by tireless effort 
he maintained the organization until Kansas was secured 
to freedom ; for he clearly heard, in this determined ag- 
gression of the slave-power, the first drum-beat of the 
terrible conflict which must follow. 

Looking over the horizon, he saw a man in Kansas, 
whose brave defence of Lawrence, and heroism at Ossa- 
watomie and "Black Jack," had made his name a terror to 
"border ruffians," and like the "shelter of a great rock" 
to hunted settlers. This man was John Brown. 

■♦ Testimony of G. L. S. before the Senate Committee, i860. 



464 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

Mr. Stearns wrote to John Brown, asking him to come 
to Boston, engaging to pay his expenses. One of the last 
days of December, 1856, or the first of January, 1857, 
these men met for the first time. Says Samuel Johnson, 
in "The Radical:" "A common spirit made these two 
men recognize each other at first sight ; and the power 
of both lay in that inability to weigh difficulties against 
duty, that instant step of thought to deed, which makes 
individuals fully possessed by the idea of the age, the 
turning-points of its destiny ; hands in the right place for 
touching the match to the train it has laid, or for leading 
the public will to the heart of its moral need. They knew 
each other as minute-men on the same watch ; as men to 
be found in the breach, before others knew where it was. 
They were one in pity, one in indignation, one in moral 
enthusiasm, burning beneath features set to patient self- 
control ; one in simplicity, though of widely different cul 
ture ; one in religious inspiration, though at the poles of 
religious thought. The old frontiersman came from his 
wilderness toils and agonies, to find within the merchant's 
mansion of art and taste, by the side of Bunker Hill, a 
perfect sympathy, the reverence of children, tender inter- 
est in his broken household, free access to a rich man's 
resources, and even a valor kindred with his own. ... It 
was not accident that made George Stearns unintention- 
ally provide the money and arms for what was called the 
* Harper's Ferry Raid,' but which awaits a name suit- 
able to its dignity. We hear the ring of those rifles, in 
his swift indorsement of them — not more courageous, 
even at that moment, than it was prophetic — before the 
Senate Committee of Inquiry: 'Do you disapprove of 
such a transaction as that of Harper's Ferry } ' The 
answer is historic : ' I should have disapproved of it if I 
had known of it ; but I have since changed my opinion. 
I consider John Brown the representative man of this 
century, as Washington was of the last ; the Harper's 
Ferry affair, and the capacity of the Italians for self- 
government, the great events of the age : one will free 
Europe; the other, America." 

It is worthy of record here, that, at the conclusion of 
his testimony, Mr. Stearns was asked by Senator Mason, 
if there were many men at the North who thought as he 
did ; "for, if there are, there is nothing left for the South 
but war." 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 465 

The latter part of i860 was full of portentous mutter- 
ings, and even threats of disunion, from nearly all parts. 
of the South. The alarming aggressions of the " slave- 
power," during the previous ten years, had produced one 
of those political tidal-waves, that, happily, have sup- 
planted the bloody rebukes to tyranny among the older 
civilizations ; and a popular moral indignation had elected 
Abraham Lincoln President of the United States. 

About Christmas-time of that year John A. Andrew, 
governor-elect of Massachusetts, asked Mr. Stearns to go 
with him to Washington, and introduce him to the leaders 
of the disunion party, with whom he had been thrown into 
contact during the Harper's Ferry investigating business, 

— the chairman of the committee, Mr. Jefferson Davis, 
and Mr. J. M. Mason, author of the " Fugitive-slave Bill," 
and others, — in order to ascertain the actual state of 
affairs, for his guidance in assuming the chair of state. 
The information Mr. Stearns obtained at this time, by 
sending into Virginia a trusted Kansas man, who had 
served in the Border campaigns, and was familiar with 
the popular slaveholding ways, gave important vantage- 
ground to the great war-governor. 

The report of this shrewd eye-witness and excellent 
listener strengthened the convictions of Mr. Stearns, that 
the South intended war, and war to the knife. "Be not 
alarmed," he wrote at that time, "about this talk of 'com- 
promise:' there will be none. Crittenden is useful to 
gain time for the leaders, but it will be war; and, in the 
terrible collision, slavery will go down — dead!' 

Returning in the cars, Mr. Stearns related to his friend 
what he had done, and urged the governor-elect to put 
Massachusetts on a war-footing without delay, with uni- 
forms and munitions ready for instant call. To the ob- 
jection raised, — "I have not yet taken the oath of office," 

— Mr. Stearns replied, ''Events will justify your action. 
Be prepared." It is a matter of history, that Massachu- 
setts was first to respond to the cry for help from Wash- 
ington. 

On the 1 2th of April, 1861, the guns of Fort Sumter 
awoke the North from its compromising security. Mr. 
Stearns hastened to Washington, and urged President 
Lincoln to issue a proclamation calling for three hundred 
thousand men; but Mr. Seward's "ninety days " policy 
prevailed ; and he writes, " It is harder to get a regiment 



466 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

accepted by the Government than it is to obtain a foreign 
mission." The uprising of the people to the defence of 
the Republic is the sublimest chapter in its history ; pain- 
ful enough to remember, however, that the debasing self- 
ishness of politics should throw its benumbing spell over 
such patriotic enthusiasm. 

For more than a year and a half the terrible vi^ar drifted 
on. "All was quiet on the Potomac." One hundred 
thousand unnamed demigods were silent in the swamps of 
Virginia; every house in the land had its skeleton: and 
yet nothing was gained. The people were tired ; large 
bounties did not fill up the ranks ; England and France 
stood ready to acknowledge "the Confederacy." What 
was to be done } Something ; and that speedily. To 
educate the public mind up to the demand for negro 
troops .'' No newspaper was ready to take the risks of 
such a suggestion. 

As early as Oct. i, 1861, Charles Sumner, in a speech 
before the Republican State Convention at Worcester, 
entitled, " Union and Peace : how they shall be restored," 
eloquently advocated the executive use of the "war 
power " in the enlistment of negroes as troops, and the 
right of emancipation. " It is not necessary," said he, 
" to carry the war into Africa. It will be enough if we 
carry Africa into the war, in any form, any quantity, any 
way. The moment this is done, rebellion will begin its 
bad luck, and the Union will be secure forever." This 
speech was pronounced " intolej-abW by the Boston news- 
papers; only garbled passages, with unjust interpretation, 
appearing in any of them. Such blind prejudice cannot 
be better illustrated here than by the fact that Mr. Stearns 
was silenced by groans and hisses in the Town Hall of 
Medford for proposing to enlist colored men, as one of the 
methods in solving the difficulty of making up its quota 
in 1862, when the call came for three hundred thousand 
men. 

So things stood. On the 6th of September, 1862, a 
newspaper was issued from No. 22 Bromfield Street, Bos- 
ton, launched on unknown seas by the money and faith of 
Mr. Stearns. An index hand pointed to these words : 
" We publish this week 20,000 copies of * The Common- 
wealth.' Next week we shall print 50,000, perhaps 100,- 
000 copies." No waiting for subscribers : it was sent to 
as many names all over the country. Its first issue con- 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 467 

tained the whole of Mr. Sumner's Worcester convention 
speech ; and it is worthy of record, that this is the first 
date of any such recognition of the great senator in his 
native city of Boston ! This injustice had been partly 
mitigated by the personal efforts of Mr. Stearns in having 
his speeches printed in pamphlet form, and sent broad- 
cast over the land. One month later, came President 
Lincoln's "prelimiinary proclamation;" followed, on the 
1st of January, 1863, by the edict of emancipation. 

In the latter part of this January, 1863, Gov. Andrew 
obtained permission of the War Department, to fill the 
quota of Massachusetts with colored troops. On his way 
home from Washington, he met Mr. Stearns in the cars, 
and showed him the "order" of Secretary Stanton. 
Here, then, was the coveted opportunity for which Mr. 
Stearns had quietly been making his plans. From time 
to time he had sought the acquaintance of leading colored 
men, who would promote the work as soon as it was com- 
menced ; and when Gov, Andrew said, "I shall want all 
the help you can give me," he stood ready, like a "minute- 
man," for orders. 

As soon as preliminary arrangements were effected, and 
Col. R. G. Shaw, Lieut.-Col. N. P. Hallowell, and Major 
E. N. Hallowell had accepted commissions in the first 
colored regiment, numbered " Fifty-Fourth " Massachu- 
setts Volunteers, he proposed to form a committee of 
citizens, and to solicit funds to carry on the work. 

The committee consisted of George L. Stearns, chair- 
man ; Richard P. Hallowell, secretary and treasurer ; John 
M. Forbes, Amos A. Lawrence, Le Baron Russell. 

Funds came promptly and liberally. Not so the men. 
They said, " We offered our services in the beginning of 
the war, and they were rejected : now we do not care to 
enlist ;" which is very much like the talk of white men. 

After several weeks of small results. Gov. Andrew sent 
for Mr. Stearns, and confessed discouragement with the 
undertaking. With Mr. Stearns, difificulties only sharp- 
ened the edge of any purpose ; and he answered, with 
voice and manner which was half the battle, " I will get 
you a regiment." The Governor's face lighted up, and he 
exclaimed, " You would make us believe that the thing 
was already done : but how do you propose to do it .-' " — 
" I shall go to Canada, and see what can be done among 
the fugitives there. After that, explore the Western 



468 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

States." — "When will you start ? " — " To-morrow morn- 
ing." 

It was bitterly cold ; the work and way all untried. No 
rewards of money or place or power glittered in the dis- 
tance. The luxuries and allurements of home weighed 
nothing. The evening of the next day found him con- 
sulting with Frederick Douglass, and enrolling, under his 
roof in New York, his first recruit, — the son of Mr. 
Douglass. A week or two later, he had established his 
headquarters at Buffalo, with agents stationed all the way 
to St. Louis. 

On the 8th of May he writes Gov. Andrew: — 

" To fill the Fifty-fourth, I shall have sent forward six hundred 
men, furnished by my exertions. It is therefore a fair conclusion, 
that, if I had not come to the West, the Fifty-fourth would have been 
to-day half filled, with a strong doubt existing in the public mind 
whether it ever would be filled. To accomplish this, I have worked 
every day, Sundays included, for two and a half months, and from 
fourteen to eighteen hours of every one of those days : I have filled 
the West with my agents ; have forced the railroads to accept my 
terms of transportation ; have filled a letter-book of five hundred 
pages with correspondence, most of it closely written : and have bor- 
rowed ten thousand dollars, on my own responsibility, to meet my 
payments. When you reflect that two hundred thousand to two 
hundred and fifty thousand blacks are scattered over a population of 
seventeen millions, you can understand how much more difficult this 
is than the recruiting of the whites. No time is left for debate, but 
instant decision, on all that comes up. This is required to meet the 
demands of my agents and sub-agents, for advice, direction, money, 
and transportation, extending over New York, Canada, Western Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan. Ticket- 
officers furnish transportation, per telegram ; express-officers pay 
money on telegram ; and all the fast modes of Western fast life are 
put in requisition to meet the requirements of this work, spread over 
this vast country." 

When Gov. Andrew telegraphed his decision not to 
raise another regiment, Mr. Stearns replied by telegram : 
"Have two hundred men towards a Fifty-fifth. What 
shall I do with them } Gov. Andrew replied by telegram, 
"You may go on, if you will fill it up in four weeks." 

Telegram : "Buffalo, May 7, 1863. H. E. Gov. Andrew. 
Thank God ! You shall have the men in four weeks." 

The following morning, he writes : — r 

Buffalo, May 8, 1863. 

His Excellency Governor Andrew. 

Dear Sir, — Your telegram of last evening gave me great joy. If 
we had stopped now, the colored men would have been thrown back 
into their old, but reasonable, distrust of the whites, and no more 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 469 

regiments could be raised except by drafting ; and, scattered as they 
are, that would have been impossible, or not worth the cost. Now 
I can go on with this one, and make provision for other work, if you 
do not want any more." 

On the 28th of May, the Fifty-fourth marched throu,L;h 
Boston, en route for Hilton Head, to the tune of " Old 
John Brown," amid immense enthusiasm, which was well 
described by Wendell Phillips, in a letter to Mr. Stearns 
at Buffalo, written on the evening of that day : — 

Thursday, May 2S, 1S63, 10 F.ii. 

Dear Stearns, — I cannot let this day close without writing to you. 
To-day the Fifty-fourth passed through our streets to their boat to 
South Carolina. Every square foot was crowded like a Fourth of 
July; and State Street roared with cheers. Is not that triumph? 
The regiment, all agree, looked remarkably well. I could not but 
think of you. And, last Monda}', I had the pleasure of linking your 
name with Andrew's ; giving the credit to your energy, sagacity, and 
unfailing hope, that we had a Fifty-fourth mustered in, and a Fifty- 
fifth filling up. Tremont Temple cheered lustily for the Buffalo king. 
Your brave boy ' was in my parlor to see the troops pass. 

Warrington writes to "The Springfield Republican :" — 

" Mr. Stearns is the man whose indomitable energy and great busi- 
ness capacity has been brought to bear on tlie organization of the 
Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Regiments. I hardly know a man whose 
biography is better worth writing than his ; but 1 don't know enough 
of it to write it ; and he will pretty surely be shy of me, now that" I 
have expressed this opinion. But two great enterprises of this cen- 
tury — first, the freedom of Kansas; and, second, the organization of 
the effective force which is to end this war by a successful and per- 
manent peace — have found in him, perhaps, their most effective organ- 
izer and worker. He never held an office ; never was, and perhaps 
never will be, a candidate for office ; is not familiar with party ma- 
chinery or methods; but is a wise and pre-eminently useful man, 
remarkably free from a spirit of dogmatism or positiveness : every 
way a remarkable personage. . . . Many men get greater fame for 
services far less valuable ; but his glory is of that nobler sort which 

' Rises and spreads aloft by those pure eyes 
And perfect witness of all-judging Jove.'"' 

While performing this arduous labor at Buffalo, he made 
time to prepare a pamphlet on "Currency and Banking," 
which was admitted, in financial circles, to be both able 
and unanswerable. 

The enlistment of the Fifty-fifth Regiment being com- 
pleted, he was obliged to decide what should be done with 
his recruiting organization ; a force perfect in its opera- 

' His son Frank, who recruited more than a hundi'ed men, — then seventeen 
years of age. 



470 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

tions, and at that time the only efficient ap^ency in the 
country for recruiting colored troops. At this juncture 
appeared the "Special Order" of the War Department, 
assuming the control of this service, and forbidding the 
recruiting of colored troops by States or individuals, with- 
out special authority from the War Department. 

This order decided his course. He at once proceeded 
to Washington, to place the whole matter in the hands of 
Secretary Stanton, then to seek much-needed rest and 
refreshment in a trip to Europe. 

To his surprise, Mr. Stanton desired him to retain the 
organization, saying, " I will put you over the recruiting 
service for colored troops, North and South, with liberty 
to approve the accounts of your agents." Aware that the 
law required a strict accountability in the expenditure of 
public money, Mr. Stearns inquired from what fund the 
money would be drawn ; that there was no provision in 
the Constitution for the payment of colored troops. Mr. 
Stanton replied, "There is a secret-service fund in all the 
departments, and they will be paid from that." After 
some complimentary remarks, — such as, that he had 
observed with pleasure the work Mr. Stearns had been 
doing in Massachusetts; that he was just the man he had 
been looking for ; that he (Mr. Stearns) had no "axes of 
his own to grind," and so on in the same strain, ending, 
that the pay would be something handsome, — to all this 
Mr. Stearns replied, — 

" If I accept your offer, Mr. Secretar}^ it must be on two condi- 
tions : first, that the colored soldiers enter the service of the govern- 
ment on the same terms as the white soldiers, — the same pay. same 
rations, same equipment; and, that I receive no compensation for my 
services, as no amount of money would be any inducement to leave 
my home, but I should be glad to serve our country in this terrible 
struggle with slavery." 

Relinquishing the long-planned journey to Europe, he 
writes : — 

" I decided to accept the offer, because it presented an opportunity 
of aiding the African race, that might never come to me again. An- 
nouncing my acceptance to Mr. Stanton, I said that I had come pre- 
pared to discuss plans for recruiting. He declined to enter on any 
discussion, saying, ' Yon ha^ie all the power of t lie War Departiitciit.^ 
... I was commissioned major, and assistant adjutant-general of the 
War Department, June 17, 1.S63, and ordered to begin my work in 
Philadelphia. Thrown at once on my own resources, I repaired to 
Philadelphia, a civilian, without the slightest knowledge of military 
affairs, to raise, arm, and equip regiments of infantry." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 471 

Fortunately, leading citizens of that city entered warmly 
into the work, rendering prompt and efficient support. 

The special correspondent of the " Cincinnati Gazette " 
furnishes a pen-and-ink portrait of Major Stearns, as he 
saw him at this time in Philadelphia, which is more satis- 
factory than the engraving accompanying this sketch. 

"Philadelphia, June 22, 1863. .. . Sauntering out of the breakfast- 
room, we encounter a familiar face. Trim, neat figure, of about 
medium size, finely shaped head, eyes that a woman would call hand- 
some, — so much you can see. For the rest, the features are masked 
behind a dark-brown flowing beard and moustache, so luxuriantlv 
ample, that a Turk might die of envy on seeing them. The finelv 
shaped head, and the handsome eyes, and the magnificent beard are 
worth more than a passing glance ; for they belong to one who will be 
honored in after-times, as the man who, above all others, placed the 
policy of enlisting negro soldiers in this war, on a practical basis, 
organized and systematized the work, and gave us tangible results ; 
a Boston merchant, of large means and liberal habits, a man of 
culture and social position, devoting time and energies and means 
to an effort to bring out the Pariah race of the continent to vindicate 
their own manhood, and help overturn the system that has made them 
what they are. The government has done well in placing the whole 
business of recruiting negroes in his hands." 

Some two hundred or three hundred men were enlisted 
at Camp William Penn, when Major Stearns accidentally 
learned that the pay had been cut down to ten dollars per 
month, without clothing. He hastened to Washington, 
and urged that "the order was as unwise as it was unjust." 
Mr. Stanton was inflexible, saying, "If colored men will 
not enlist for ten dollars, they need not enlist at all." — 
"But," urged Mr. Stearns, "two or three hundred men 
are already enlisted on the terms you allowed. What^ shall 
I do .'' " — " You vmst do the best you can." — " All the power 
of the War Department "was, to throw Major Stearns into 
the water, to find the shore if he could ! Possibly it may 
turn out that he was not "just the man " the great War 
Secretary "had been looking for." 

That same evening he took train for Boston, reaching 
there as speedily as steam could bring him ; drew up a 
paper, setting forth the urgency of the hour, and, heading 
its subscription -column with the sum of two thousand 
dollars, presented it to leading merchants, who swiftly 
augmented it to the amount of sixty thousand dollars. A 
committee was formed, with Mr. R. P. Hallowell, treasurer, 
called " The Recruiting Fund Committee." Being pro- 
vided with money, and the emphatic approbation of "the 



472 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

solid men of Boston," he presented himself at the War 
Department, in readiness for more extended operations ; 
certain citizens of Philadelphia relieving him of the work 
commenced there. He was ordered to "report in person 
to Major-Gen. Rosecrans, at his headquarters in the De- 
partment of the Cumberland, for duty." He writes : — 

" In this order no intimation was given me of the service to be 
performed ; neither did I know, until I had been two months in Nash- 
ville, why I was sent to that department. A simple letter of introduc- 
tion to Gen. Rosecrans, and the knowledge that I was expected in 
some way to recruit colored troops, were my only guidance." 

The only instructions to be obtained from the War 
Department were telegrams commanding him "■not to 
quarrel with the military govevjior of Tennessee ;" until 
one day he took a handful of these despatches to the State 
House, and, handing them to Gov. Johnson, asked what 
the " quarrel " was between them, as he knew of none. 
The absurdity brought a hearty laugh from the courteous 
governor, who asked him to sit down and explain the 
plans which had brought him to Tennessee. The result 
was the immediate and hearty co-operation of Gov. John- 
son in the work. The time consumed before the 8th of 
October, when recruiting fairly commenced, was not lost 
by Major Stearns. He visited the colored churches, and 
made the acquaintance of their leading men, "soon obtain- 
ing their confidence," he modestly wrote. 

A terrible system of impressment of colored men was 
in force at that time. Any colored man, free or slave, 
was seized and dragged off to the fortifications and rail- 
roads, where he was neither sheltered nor sufficiently fed, 
and seldom if ever paid ; and colored men were sometimes 
shot down in the streets of Nashville for offering resist- 
ance. Gov. Johnson said he was powerless, his authority 
not extending over the military force of the city. Ap- 
peals to the department at Washington fared no better. 
Major Stearns then called a meeting of colored men, and 
after explaining to them what he was trying to do for their 
race, and that this was their opportunity for freedom and 
manhood, promised that if they would volunteer to work 
on the fortifications and railroads for thirty days, he would 
be responsible for their food, shelter, and payment. A 
number responded at once, and the next day two hundred 
men appeared at his headquarters. The commandant 
proposing " three cheers for Major Stearns, the man who 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 473 

has stopped impressment," the "three times three " cheers 
were given with a will, and followed by the " John Brown 
song." A little entertainment was improvised, and then 
they were escorted by a platoon of soldiers to the railroad. 
It was the first time in its history that Nashville beheld 
negroes marching in its streets, dressed in the uniform of 
the United States. 

In order to realize the importance of this work on the 
railroads and fortifications, it must be remembered that 
" Nashville was the goal of both armies." " It must be for- 
tified, else the Confederate army would fight for its pos- 
session in the very streets of the city." 

With numberless hinderances, and no support from the 
government at Washington, he had mustered into its ser- 
vice ten regiments, in two months, at a cost of twelve 
thousand and five hundred dollars.' 

Beside all this, he laid a foundation for colored schools 
in Nashville, sending to Boston for a car-load of school- 
books, and established a hospital for disabled soldiers. 
And this man was fain to retire from a service so benefi- 
cent, patriotic, and invaluable, at that period of the war, — 
receiving not one cent of compensation, and, instead, mort- 
gaging his beautiful estate in Medford to supply deficien- 
cies at instant need, — because he " became convinced that 
the government did not wish, and would not bear, thorough 
and conscientious work in that direction." " I kept at my 
post as long as I could put faith in its intention to accept 
the aid ot the colored man on fair terms. When I lost 
that faith, I resigned." 

It will be remembered that Kentucky was not included 
in the edict of emancipation. Slaves from that State 
would run to Nashville to be enlisted ; and although Major 
Stearns was authorized by the War Department to pay 
the owners three hundred dollars per head, they were nei- 
ther satisfied nor comfortable. Delegations of slaveholders 
proceeded to Washington, charged with complaints ; and 
when Major Stearns arrived at the seat of government in 
November of 1863, he was sternly rebuked by Secretary 
Stanton for not returning these fugitives. He could sacri- 
fice himself, his fortune, and all that were most dear to 

' As an illustration of the rare executive ability of Mr. Stearns, and his genius 
for organization, it may be mentioned, that, while performing this toilsome and per- 
plexing work in Tennessee, he managed his large business in Boston daily, by tele- 
gram and by letter, having reduced it to such perfection of system, that subordinates 
were compelled to mechanical exactness. 



474 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

him, to preserve a government "of the people, for the peo- 
ple, and by the people;" but he could not return fugitive 
slaves. 

TVxsfact he did not reveal to familiar friends ; choosing 
rather to suffer unmerited criticism, than weaken the pub- 
lic confidence in the administration, during those dreadful 
days of doubt and fear. 

In resigning his "commission," Mr. Stearns recovered 
his freedom and independence of action, extending to his 
successor cordial and valuable assistance. But the dropped 
threads of that enterprise never found the hand to pick 
them up. 

In 1864 he returned to Tennessee, with a view to mak- 
ing an experiment of free labor. He took a plantation at 
Murfreesborough, and hired negroes at the same rate of 
wages as was paid to white laborers. The result was a 
triumphant vindication of the pecuniary advantage of free 
over the slave labor employed on an adjacent plantation. 
This was perhaps the only investment made for a princi- 
ple, that ever returned him principal and interest. 

" The P'reedman's Bureau," " impartial suffrage," the 
complicated problems of " reconstruction," and kindred 
questions, claimed his constant effort. New organs were 
needed for diffusing instruction in the less enlightened 
portions of the country. He started a little newspaper 
called "The Right Way," fifty thousand to sixty thousand 
copies of which were distributed over the South every 
week. The recognitions of its fitness were many and fer- 
vent. The Attorney-General of Texas wrote to Gov. An- 
drew, asking " if it could not be sent by the cart-load all 
over that State and the South." This paper he maintained 
for two years, at the cost of sixty thousand dollars. The 
New-York " Nation " originated with him, and was estab- 
lished principally through his influence, and largely by his 
means ; and it is well known how his purposes and inten- 
tions were betrayed in that instance. 

The welfare of the people everywhere was sacred to 
him. Heroic Hungary and its exiles were fatherland and 
brothers ; and his last public efforts were in behalf of the 
Cretans.' While canvassing New York for their pecuniary 
aid in January, 1867, he contracted a severe cold, which 
never relaxed its hold, and finally culminated in pneumo- 
nia, from which he died in New York, April 9, 1867. 

' He obtained something like ^60,000 for the Cretans. 



HISTORY OF r^TEDFORD. 475 

From the numerous tributes that appeared in the pubhc 
prints to the memory of Major Stearns, we select a few 
paragraphs from the Boston "Transcript" of April 13. 

" The funeral services of the late Major George L. Stearns took 
place at his mansion in Medforcl, near College Hill, yesterday after- 
noon. A strong desire was expressed that the funeral sliould be pub- 
lic in the Unitarian Church of Medford, in order that a greater number 
might have an opportunity of expressing their sorrow and regret. 
But the bereaved family shrunk from this publicity, and decided that 
the obsequies should be of the simplest character, and in his own 
home. 

" The reading of happily selected Scripture, and an appropriate 
prayer by Rev. Samuel Longfellow, were followed by fitting tributes 
from Mr. R. W. Emerson of Concord, and Professor Ther)pliilus Par- 
sons of Cambridge. Mr. Emerson said, ' Of our friend it is difficult 
to speak, and yet hard not to speak. The most striking characteris- 
tics of Major Stearns were his singleness of heart, and his freedom 
from all pride of opinion. In his devotion to the "causes " which he 
espoused, he gave more than he asked others to give. While many 
gave of their money as an expiation for not throwing themselves into 
the service, or as an excuse for not doing so, he gave as an earnest 
of his entire service, thus inspiring generosity. To name the philan- 
thropic enterprises of New England, would only be to enumerate the 
objects to which he devoted himself. His modesty, and absence of 
all self-assertion, were so rare, that we ought to be devoutly thankful 
that Nature and Heaven had sent us such a man ; that we had had the 
privilege of living with him. Measured by his work, his was one of 
the longest lives. He was no boaster, but a man for Jtp-Iiill work; 
not waiting for the morning, he began at midnight, while yet the stars 
were in the sky ; and wlien the sun rose, and the work was accom- 
plished, he m ide haste to depart, as if to escape from our thanks.' 

" .\Ir. Emerson closed by speaking of his personal friendship with 
Mr. Stearns, and of the testimony John Brown had given him of his 
worth. 

" Professor Parsons said he had known Mr. Stearns many years ; 
that his private character was as clear as crystal. One trait he would 
speak of, in which he stood pre-eminent, — the marvellous union of 
energy and enthusiasm, with a total absence of personal ambition. 
During the past four or five years, he had frequently been with him, 
when plans were discussed and proposals favored ; and though Major 
Stearns was always forward to labor, and to endure obloquy, and to 
spend money, yet when it came to recognition, to piib'icity, nothing 
would induce him to be foremost. When urged to place his name at 
the head of a movement of which he was the beginning, the life, and 
the energy, his answer was, ' No, nothing like that ; my name must be 
used only as a testimony of agreement, and not put forward.' It 
would be the fault of those he had left, if they were not all better for 
his influence and his memory. To himself, he had been a revelation, 
which had done good to his soul. 

" It was a sunny, beautiful day, so soft and still that nature seemed 
to have paused in quiet hush, when the worn-out garment of his active 
soul was laid away reverently and tenderly at Mount Auburn, in a 
grave lined with fresh evergreen, strewn with choicest flowers, and 



476 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

watered by tears which flowed from loving and grateful hearts. We 
turned from it with feelings responsive to Mr. llongfellow's parting 
words, — ' He is not here : he is risen.' " 

A service in commemoration of the life and character 
of Major Stearns was held in the Unitarian Church, Med- 
ford, Simday mornin,";, the 14th of April, when an address 
was made by R. W. Emerson, at his own request, 

JUDAH LORING. 

Judah Loring was born in Duxbury, Mass., April 15, 
1809, and was educated in the public schools of his native 
town. In his minority he learned the trade of a ship- 
joiner, and when he was twenty-two years old came to 
Medford, and commenced the successful prosecution of 
that vocation. Dec. 3, 1835, he married Miss Betsey 
White Faxon, the daughter of Asaph and Eunice Allen 
Faxon, who became a true helpmeet to him, and justly 
shared the respect that he won. Soon after he came to 
Medford, he was identified with some of her prominent 
public interests, and early became a leading spirit in 
works of improvement and reform. 

He held many town ofBces, such as school committee- 
man, overseer of the poor, selectman, etc., and for a long 
time was justice of the peace for the county of Middlesex. 
The Orthodox church, of which he was a worthy member, 
promoted him to the office of deacon, and he served in 
that capacity for many years. He was a zealous advocate 
of temperance, and an uncompromising foe of human 
slavery, in years when it required courage and true manli- 
ness to act in the temperance or the anti-slavery cause. 

Mr. Loring possessed in a large degree qualities that 
commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow-citi- 
zens. He was a true man, a sincere and loyal patriot, and 
a courteous Christian gentleman. 

He went to Kansas in May, 1857, and died there, in the 
city of Lawrence, Oct. 31 of that year. His wife sur- 
vived him ; and his three children, still living, are Free- 
man Allen, Mary James, and Arthur Green Loring. The 
town delighted to honor Mr. Loring while he lived; and 
after his decease, resolutions, in deserved commendation 
of his life and public services, were presented at a meet- 
ing of the town, and unanimously adopted. 





c^-^l^ ^^Z^:^^^:^ 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 477 

DANIEL LAWRENCE. 

Daniel Lawrence was born in Tyngsborough, Mass , 
Sept. 12, 1797. He came to Medford in 1823, and entered 
the firm of 13ishop & Goodrich, distillers. From that date 
until the close of his life, he was successfully engaged in 
the business of distilling ; for a large portion of the time 
on his own account, and, later, under the firm name of 
Daniel Lawrence & Sons. At one period he was also 
interested in the same business in New Orleans, and for 
several years gave it his personal supervision. 

In 1858, during a temporary residence in Tyngsborough, 
he represented the town in the Legislature, giving his 
salary to the town. In token of his regard for his birth- 
place, he bequeathed by will seven thousand dollars, in 
perpetual -trust, for the benefit of its indigent citizens. 

He filled many positions of public trust in Medford ; 
and great confidence was placed in his sound judgment 
and executive ability. At the breaking-out of the Rebel- 
lion, he showed a most loyal interest in the effort to main- 
tain the Union, and advanced the funds necessary for the 
equipment of the Lawrence Light Guard, then going out 
to the seat of war. Mr. Lawrence died Jan. 19, 1879, i'"' 
the eighty-second year of his age. 

CAPT. JOHN T. WHITE 

was born in Portsmouth, N.H., March 29, 1798. He was 
the youngest of seven children ; and at the age of nine- 
teen years removed to Medford, where he soon became 
deeply interested in matters of religion. Two years later 
he united with the Orthodox Church in Deerfield, N.H., 
and afterwards was one of the original members of the 
First Trinitarian-Congregational Church in Medford. He 
was a member of the parish committee for several years, 
and became an earnest worker in effecting the union of 
the two Orthodox societies, which was accomplished in 
December, 1874. 

When but twenty-two years old, he was made a Free 
and Accepted Mason ; and for a period of nearly sixty 
years he was an active and honored member of that fra- 
ternity, always prompt at its regular communications un- 
til prevented by the infirmities of age. He was also an 
earnest and practical advocate of Odd-Fellowship, having 



4/8 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

united with that Order when he was forty years old. He 
was a charter member of Harmony Lodge, and manifested 
his interest in its prosperity and work to the close of his 
life. 

The cause of temperance had a strong and active friend 
in Mr.' White. He was a member of several temperance 
organizations in his town, prominent among which was 
Mount Lebanon Temple of Honor, of which he was one 
of the founders. In early manhood he was commissioned 
as captain of the militia, and was known and honored by 
that title to the close of his life. 

Much time and thought were given by him to the wel- 
fare of Medford. For eleven years, from 1845 to 1856, he 
was on the board of overseers of the poor, and most of 
that time was its chairman. He was constable five years, 
chief of police two years, and for thirty-five consecutive 
years he filled the responsible position of collector of taxes. 

He frequently expressed a wish that he might be found 
at the post of duty when God's messenger should come to 
call him home, — that he might die with the harness on ; 
and his wish was realized. Always at his post, never seek- 
ing a vacation from labor, he wore out in cheerful service ; 
and, at the age of fourscore years, went forward from life 
to life. 

He left a widow and five children to mourn his decease. 
On the day of his funeral, business in the town was sus- 
pended, and the people, young and old, hastened to pay 
respect to his memory. 

GEORGE W. PORTER. 

George W. Porter was born in Medford, Jan. 26, 1801, 
and died in December, i860. He was highly respected, 
and served the town as representative, justice of the 
peace, and as treasurer, for many years. The selectmen 
in their report, Feb. i, 1861, speak of him as follows : — 

*' A vacancy in the office of town treasurer was created 
by the death of George W. Porter, Esq., Dec. 21 last. 
Mr. Porter had always lived in Medford ; had held various 
town offices, and had been town treasurer for twenty-four 
consecutive years. In the performance of his public du- 
ties, and in his private business, he was faithful, accurate, 
and courteous to all. In his death we have lost an es- 
teemed citizen, and a good officer. He died regretted 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 479 

and respected by all who knew him. We desire to express 
our sense of the loss the town has sustained by his death, 
and our sympathy with his bereaved family. We feel that 
our citizens will universally join in this expression of 
respect and sorrow." 

MARIA GOWEN BROOKS. 

One of the women of note by whom Medford has been 
honored was Maria Gowen, born here in 1796. She was 
left an orphan when thirteen years of age. Her life of 
fifty years was one of comparatively little outward inci- 
dent ; but her poetical writings evince a genius of a very 
high order. She was married at the early age of fourteen 
to a Boston merchant named Brooks, a union which proved 
to be an unhappy one. She was left a widow, with three 
sons, at the age of twenty-six. Notwithstanding the trials 
to which she was subject, she proved herself a poetess of 
such rare talent as to attract the attention of the poet 
Southey, and call forth the expression of his admiration. 
He writes of her chief work, " Zophiel, or the Bride of 
Seven:" "Thus sings Maria del Occidente, the most impas- 
sioned and imaginative of all poetesses." Charles Lamb 
rose from the reading of it with these words : " Southey 
says it is by some Yankee woman ; as if there had ever 
been a woman capable of any thing so great ! " At the 
time of her death in 1845, Mr. Rufus W. Griswold wrote 
of her : " She was one of the most remarkable women 
that ever lived. To great attainments in literature, she 
joined a powerful and original genius, and a character of 
singular energy and individuality. Both in England and 
the United States, she has been considered by those who 
have read her writings thoughtfully, as unmatched among 
poets of her sex." Mr. Whittier, our New-England poet, 
says, "When a young man I read 'Zophiel,' a most re- 
markable poem, and have never forgotten it. The impas- 
sioned song which Southey praised so highly is a perfect 
gem.' Miss Eunice Hall of Medford, who saw Mrs. Brooks 
when on a visit to her native town, says, " She was a very 
handsome lady, with winning manners, purest blonde com- 
plexion, blue eyes, abundant pale golden hair, who wrote 
poetry, and sang very sweetly." , Miss Lucy Osgood, in 
mentioning a visit of Mrs. Brooks to Medford, says, "I 
have a dim recollection of a lady walking out at odd hours, 



48o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

and dressed in white at odd seasons, and of being told 
that she was Mrs. Brooks of the Gowen family, and a 
poetess. She and her family soon disappeared ; and I 
afterwards found, chiefly through a laudatory article in one 
of our English reviews, that we had had a flower of genius 
among us, and, in our stupidity, knew it not." 

Mrs. Brooks lived a part of her life near Limoral, Cuba; 
and after visiting Canada, England, and France, returned 
and died in her Cuban home. 

LOUISA J. CUTTER. 

Louisa J. Cutter, daughter of Gershom and Lydia (Por- 
ter) Cutter, was born in Medford, Aug. 15, 1835. She 
was educated in the public schools of the town, and until 
she reached her fifteenth year was not considered preco- 
cious, though always a pains-taking and industrious scholar. 
But from the beginning of her sixteenth year, she showed 
signs of literary talent, which both surprised and pleased 
her friends. Her first published poem was received with 
much favor ; and, inspired by that, she soon produced 
short poems and articles in prose, which were readily ac- 
cepted by editors of various journals. Soon her articles 
were sought and paid for. She was never strong, but while 
a small measure of health remained she continued to use 
her pen, and for three years was a regular contributor to 
the press. We should be pleased to give extracts from 
her published writings, did our space permit. The poems 
entitled "The Warrior's Wife to her Husband," and "The 
Last Wish," are especially commendable ; and, with others, 
may be found in the Public Library, in a volume of her 
writings published by the writer, entitled "Cypress 
Leaves." Miss Cutter died before she was twenty ; and 
her career as an author lasted but three years, and these 
were years of feeble health. Her beautiful gifts, both of 
person and of mind, have left a lasting impression upon 
those who knew her, 

MR. CHARLES CUMMINGS. 

Charles Cummings was born in Hollis, N.H., June 7, 
1817. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Whitney) 
Cummings. At the a^e of fourteen years, he was em- 
ployed as clerk in a store in Amherst, N.H., where he 
spent about four years ; when the decease of his employer, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 48 1 

and the necessary closing-up of his business, terminated 
his engagement. He then began preparation for college, 
at Pepperell Academy ; and while there, he discharged the 
double duty of pupil and assistant teacher a large part of; 
the time. 

He entered Dartmouth College 1838, and was graduated 
with honor from one of the largest and most distinguished 
classes ever sent out from that institution. 

His mind and heart turned towards the work of the 
Christian ministry, and he entered the theological semi- 
nary at Andover in 1842 ; and, although absent nearly two 
years while filling the position of principal of Abington 
Union Academy, he graduated in 1846. 

During the last year of his theological studies, his health 
failed so greatly that he was induced to relinquish, tempo- 
rarily at least, his professional career, and engage in an- 
other vocation, for which he had an early and very strong 
attachment. He had taught school during his course in 
college, and while in the theological seminary, until that 
work had become easy and pleasant to him ; and in his 
physical weakness he re-engaged in it, as something akin 
to restful employment. 

The principal's chair in the Medford High School being 
at that time vacant, he was chosen as the best qualified, 
among many applicants to fill it ; and he held the position 
until 1876, when the infirmity of deafness had so increased, 
that he felt that duty required him to resign. 

During the thirty years in which he held that responsi- 
ble position, he had under his charge eleven hundred: 
pupils; and those, added to the scholars he had previously 
instructed in academies and other schools, would make the- 
whole number who have received instruction from him 
full eighteen hundred. 

Large as have been the results, intellectually considered, 
of Mr. Cummings's labors as an instructor, it cannot be 
questioned that the example of his pure life, and unselfish 
devotion to duty, has been of even greater value to his 
pupils. Few men can look back upon a career of more 
uninterrupted usefulness ; and few have a stronger hold 
upon the love and respect of the community in which 
they live. 



482 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



NATHANIEL H. BISHOP. 

In the Boston " Daily Advertiser " of Jan. 12, 1856, 
the following paragraph appeared in a letter from Valpa- 
raiso, dated Nov. 27, 1855 : — 

" There arrived here, a few days since, a young man belonging to 
Medford, Mass., who has walked across the Pampas and Cordilleras, 
more than a thousand miles, unable to speak the language, and with 
an astonishingly small amount of money. So much for a Yankee." 

This young man was Nathaniel H. Bishop of this town. 
He was but seventeen years of age when he entered upon 
his difficult undertaking; but by great perseverance, in- 
spired by an enthusiastic love for nature, he accomplished 
a task that many older and more experienced travellers 
than himself would have shrunk from undertaking. The 
young traveller started on his journey of upwards of 
twelve thousand miles by sea and land, with a cash capital 
of forty-five dollars, and returned home with fifty. An 
interesting account of his journey was subsequently pub- 
lished in Boston, with an introduction by E. A. Samuels, 
the well-known writer on ornithology. Mr. Bishop has 
since published an account of a canoe-trip made by him 
along the southern coast. The story of his adventures is 
well told, and his scientific observations are of value. 

GEN. EDWARD N. HALLOWELL. 

Edward Needles Hallowell was born in Philadelphia, 
Penn., Nov. 3, 1837. Soon after the opening of the Rebel- 
lion in 1861, he entered the service as volunteer aide-de- 
camp to Gen. John C. Fremont. He was appointed second 
lieutenant. Twentieth Massachusetts Infantry, Jan. 11, 
1862; and was promoted first lieutenant Nov. 12, 1862. 
He was engaged in the principal battles of the Peninsular 
campaign, and at Antietam served on the staff of Gen. 
Dana. He was commissioned captain. Fifty-fourth Massa- 
chusetts Infantry, March 6, 1863 ; was promoted major, 
April 17, 1863; and advanced to the lieutenant-colonelcy 
of his regiment. May 31, 1863. He was badly wounded at 
the assault upon Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, and was pro- 
moted colonel, July 18, 1863. 

At the disastrous battle of Olustee, Fla.,he brought his 
colored regiment, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, into ac- 
tion in the very crisis of affairs, checked the advance of a 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 483 

victorious enemy, and, in a thoroughly creditable manner, 
made it possible for the Federal column to retire upon 
Jacksonville. 

He was created brevet brigadier-general, United States 
Volunteers, June 27, 1865, for "meritorious service." He 
died at West Medford, Mass., July 26, 1871. 

COL. NORWOOD p. HALLOWELL. 

Norwood Penrose Hallowell was born in Philadelphia, 
Penn., April 13, 1839. He was graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege, in class of 1861. 

June 10, 1 861, he was commissioned first lieutenant. 
Twentieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. He was 
engaged in the battle of Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21, 1861, and 
was promoted captain, Nov. 26, 1861. He was present at 
the siege of Yorktown, under fire at West Point, in action 
at Fair Oaks and at Savage's Station, and was wounded 
at Glendale. Later, he was present at the battle of Mal- 
vern Hill, and subsequently took part in a reconnoissance 
from Harrison's Landing to that place ; was in the third 
line of battle at Chantilly ; and at Antietam, Sept. 17, 
1862, was severely wounded. 

April 17, 1863, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel. Fifty- 
fourth Massachusetts ; and May 30 of the same year, at 
the request of Gov. John A. Andrew, he accepted the colo- 
nelcy of the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts, — the second Massa- 
chusetts colored regiment brought into the service, — and 
was stationed for a brief period at Newbern, N.C. He 
encamped with his regiment on north end of Folly Island, 
Charleston Harbor, Aug. 5, 1863, and took part in the 
reduction of Fort Wagner, Morris Island. Nov. 2, 1863, 
Col. Hallowell was discharged for disability arising from 
wounds. He took up his residence in Medford in 1869. 

Too high honor cannot be awarded to that devotion to a 
principle which led the brothers Hallowell to voluntarily 
connect themselves with the first colored regiments raised 
during the war. There was at that time a wide-spread 
public sentiment against the employment of colored troops 
in the Union armies, founded on race prejudices which 
were perhaps as strong in the North as in the South. The 
readiness shown by young men of culture, character, and 
high social position, to cast in their lots with a despised 
race, by standing with them in the close relations of broth- 



484 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

ers-in-arms, was a silent but most effective protest against 
this inveterate caste feeling. The gallant bearing of the 
"black regiments " in the field, and the heroic death of 
Col. Robert G. Shaw while leading his command in the 
assault upon Fort Wagner, stirred the public heart to a 
recognition of the claims of the colored race to a common 
humanity and equal political rights ; thus paving the way 
to their advancement to republican citizenship, under a 
resrenerated constitution. 



JAMES G. SWAN. 

The family name borne by the subject of this brief bio- 
graphical notice had numerous. and respectable represent- 
atives in this town, in the early part of this century ; but 
their descendants, as in the case of most of the old fami- 
lies, are widely scattered, and the name has become extinct 
in Medford. 

James G. Swan, the third son of Samuel and Margaret 
(Tufts) Swan, was born in Medford, Jan. 11, 1818. Of 
the early events of his life we have scant information. 
He appears to have been one of the early emigrants to 
the Pacific Coast, and for a long term of years has been a 
resident of Washington Territory, where he has held vari- 
ous offices under the United States Government. In 1871 
he was appointed probate judge of Jefferson County, Wash- 
ington Territory, and held the ofifice seven years. At 
the expiration of that time, he received the appointment of 
inspector of customs of the district of Puget Sound, and 
was stationed at Neah Bay, where he resided three years. 
During that period he made extensive and valuable col- 
lections for the United States Fish -Commission, with 
which he was connected. He now resides at Port Town- 
send, where he has his law-office. He holds the position 
of United States Commissioner for the third judicial dis- 
trict of Washington Territory. 

Judge Swan went to Alaska in 1875, as United States 
commissioner to procure articles of Indian manufacture 
for the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and he for- 
warded the finest collection ever received from the north- 
west coast. 

He has had a strong predilection for literary and scien- 
tific pursuits. For twenty-five years he has been con- 
nected with the Smithsonian Institute as a collaborator, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 485 

and many excellent monographs from his hand have ap- 
peared in the publications of that institution. They bear 
on scientific and ethnological subjects, and esi)ccially the 
manners, customs, and languages of the North-western 
Indians, and are the result of personal observation and 
research. Honorable mention has been made of his labors 
in the annual Smithsonian reports. He has also contrib- 
uted valuable papers to the United States Fish-Commis- 
sion, on the fisheries of Cape Flattery and Puget Sound. 

In 1857 his book entitled "The North-west Coast; or, 
Three Years in Washington Territory," was published by 
the Harpers. 

In addition to the publications cited, he has made exten- 
sive contributions to the magazines and the press, largely 
on subjects relating to the section of country in which he 
resides, in his knowledge of which he may justly be con- 
sidered a specialist. 

In the midst of his busy labors. Judge Swan has not for- 
gotton his birthplace. In 1880 he presented to the town 
of Medford a fine collection of Indian curiosities for the 
Public Library, where they are carefully preserved. 

ROLAND GREENE USHER. 

Roland Greene Usher was born Jan. 6, 1823, at Med- 
ford, and there spent the years of childhood and youth, 
until he removed to Lynn, where he has ever since re- 
sided. He has held many important public positions. 
He was mayor of Lynn for three years, having previously 
served in both branches of the city government. He was 
for three years a member of the Executive Council of the 
Commonwealth. He represented his city in the House of 
Representatives. 

Prior to the war, he was lieutenant-colonel of the now 
historic "Eighth" Regiment. In April, 1861, he left 
home for Washington with that regiment, but was soon 
transferred to the regular army, and served throughout the 
war with the rank of major, but was, however, toward the 
close made lieutenant-colonel by brevet. On the re-organ- 
ization of the State militia, in 1866, he was appointed a 
member of the staff of the major-general commanding, 
and held that position for the ten years that followed. 
From 1 87 1 until 1879, he was United-States Marshal for 
the District of Massachusetts. In February, 1883, he was 



486 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

appointed warden of the Massachusetts State Prison, 
which position he resigned in May, 1886. 

THOMAS S. HARLOW. 

Thomas S. Harlow was born in Castine, Me., Nov. 15, 
181 2. His family removed to Bangor, in 1824. In 1831 
he came to Massachusetts, where he spent the next three 
years in teaching and in preparation for college. During 
the year following June, 1833, he had charge of the gram- 
mar school in this town, which was kept in the old brick 
schoolhouse behind the Unitarian Church. He entered 
the junior class in Bowdoin College in 1834, and was 
graduated in 1836. He studied law for two years in the 
office of Gov. Edward Kent, in Bangor, and edited a paper 
in Dover, Me., during the political campaign of 1838. He 
then went to Louisville, Ky., completed his legal studies, 
and was admitted to the bar in that city, in 1839. ^^ 
practised his profession for three years in Paducah, Ky. ; 
but, in 1842, he returned to Massachusetts, and established 
himself permanently in the practice of the law in Boston. 

In November, 1843, Mr. Harlow married Miss Lucy J. 
Hall, daughter of Ebenezer Hall of Medford, and removed 
to this town, where he has ever since resided. 

On the establishment of the First District Court of 
Eastern Middlesex, he was appointed special justice of the 
court, which office he continues to hold, bringing to the dis- 
charge of its responsible duties a sound judgment, a natural 
sense of equity, and a wide range of professional learning. 

Mr. Harlow has always taken a deep interest in all 
that concerns the welfare of Medford, and has lent a help- 
ing hand to every effort which has been made to promote 
its moral, educational, and material progress. He was for 
many years, in the earlier part of his life, a valued mem- 
ber of the school-committee, and a trustee of the public 
library ; and, although he has held no other public offices, 
he has made his knowledge of affairs, in various ways, 
serviceable to the town. Happy in the possession of a 
vigorous constitution and an active mind, he has not been 
willing to find in advancing years an excuse for abated 
usefulness. 

In private life Mr. Harlow enjoys the universal respect 
of the community in which he lives. His social instincts 
are strong, and he is an excellent conversationalist, de- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 487 

lighting in the free exchange of ideas, and ready to impart 
the copious stores of information he has gathered from 
books and from an extended experience in life. While 
strongly attached to the traditions of the past, and to 
that extent conservative, he has kept step with the great 
movements of the day, in full sympathy with the aspira- 
tions of good men for the elevation of humanity. Never 
seeking political preferment, and little studious of the 
arts of popularity, he is constitutionally fearless in the 
expression of his opinions, and his attitude upon all ques- 
tions, whether of national, state, or local interest, has been 
that of a thoughtful and self-respecting American citizen. 
Such men help to build up the best public sentiment, and 
are a source of strength to any community. 

JOSHUA T. FOSTER. 

Up to the time of the civil war, ship-building was by far 
the most important industry of Medford, and gave to the 
town an almost world-wide reputation. Hundreds of men 
were employed in the shipyards, and a more respectable 
body of mechanics never helped to make up the popula- 
tion of any town. The leading ship-builders ranked among 
the most influential citizens of Medford, and were men of 
strong sense and great practical ability. Among them, 
the subject of this brief biographical notice holds a promi- 
nent place. 

Joshua T. Foster was born in South Scituate, Mass., 
Jan. 31, 1 8 ID. He came to Medford in 1826, and served 
his apprenticeship as a ship-carpenter, in the shipyard of 
Sprague & James. In 1852 he entered into partnership 
with John Taylor, succeeding his old employers in their 
business. A few years later the business fell into his sole 
hands, and was successfully conducted by him until 1873, 
about which time ship-building may almost be said to have 
ceased to be an American industry. In that year he built 
the last ship constructed in Medford. 

Capt. Foster has always been an active and public-spirited 
citizen of Medford, and has taken great interest in town 
affairs. He was chosen captain of the Medford militia as 
early as 1834, and has held the title to this day. He has 
been elected to many public offices in the town, having 
served eleven years as selectman, — a part of the time 
as chairman of the board of selectmen, — and four years 



488 HTSTORY OF MEDFORD. 

as assessor. The town has derived great advantage from 
his unremitting devotion to its interests, especially during 
the time of the Rebellion. In the years 1883 and 1884 he 
represented Medford in the General Court. 

He has been a director of the Maiden and Medford Gas 
Company since the time of its organization, and has lat- 
terly been its president. He was also, for many years, a 
director of the Bay State Brick Company. 

He married, June 12, 1836, Miss Ellen G. Sprague, 
daughter of Mr. Isaac Sprague, ship-builder ; and has two 
children now living, a son and a daughter. 

Few men in Medford are better known, or more kindly 
regarded, than Capt. Joshua T. Foster. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 489 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

HISTORICAL AND LOCAL ITEMS. 

July 28, 1629: Mr. Joseph Bradshaw was present this 
day, as one of the assistants, at the sitting of the court in 
London. 

, 1630 : The fleet that brought over Governor Winthrop 
and the first settlers of Medford was nautically organized. 
The history says : " Articles of consortship were drawn 
between the captain and mariners. The Arbella to be 
the admiral ; the Talbot to be the vice-admiral ; the Am- 
brose, the rear-admiral." The Arbella was named in honor 
of Mrs. Johnson, the wife of one of the "five undertakers 
in London." 

Aug. 23, 1630: "Ordered that no person shall use or 
take away any boat or canoe without leave from the owner 
thereof, on pain of fine and imprisonment, at the discre- 
tion of the court." 

Aug. 23, 1630: "It was ordered that carpenters, join- 
ers, bricklayers, sawyers, thatchers, shall not take above 
2s. a day, nor any man shall give more, under pain of \os. 
to taker and giver ; and that sawyers shall not take above 
4.y. 6d. the hundred for boards, at six score the hundred, if 
they have their wood felled and squared for them ; and 
not above 5^-. 6^. if they fell and square their wood them- 
selves." 

Feb. 7, 1632: On this day Governor Winthrop, Mr. 
Nowell, and others, crossed our ford in Medford. and trav- 
elled on an exploring expedition towards the north-east, 
and came "to a very great pond, having in the midst an 
island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine 
and beech ; and the pond had divers small rocks standing 
up here and there in it, which they therefore called Spot 
Pond. They went all about it on the ice." 

1633 : Neal says, " Hardly a vessel came into these 
ports but was crowded with passengers for New England." 



490 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

July 2, 1633 : "It is ordered that no person sell either 
wine or strong water without leave from the governor or 
deputy-governor ; and no man shall give any strong water 
to any Indian." 1638: " Wine shall not be sold by inn- 
holders, but they may brew the beer they sell." 

Oct. I, 1633 : Thanksgiving Day appointed by the Gen- 
eral Court, — the first on record. It was as follows : " In 
regard to the many and extraordinary mercies which the 
Lord hath been pleased to vouchsafe of late to this plan- 
tation, — viz., a plentiful harvest, ships safely arrived with 
persons of special use and quality, etc., — it is ordered 
that Wednesday, i6th of this present month, shall be kept 
as a day of public thanksgiving through the several plan- 
tations." 

1635 : A wharf, made by large trees laid crosswise, was 
built on the bank of Maiden River, opposite the Welling- 
ton farm, near the present Wellington railroad station, 
and a cartway led from it to the first house built in Med- 
ford. 

Oct. 28, 1636 : " It is ordered that the freemen of every 
town shall, from time to time, as occasion shall require, 
agree amongst themselves about the prices and rates of 
any town, whether workmen, laborer, or servant." 

1636: "Buying provisions and victuals to sell again is 
forbidden, unless leave be obtained of the governor." 

Nov. 20, 1637: "Ordered that no person shall sell any 
cakes or buns, either in the markets, or victualling houses, 
or elsewhere, upon pain of \os. fine; provided that this 
order shall not extend to such cakes as shall be made for 
any burial or marriage, or such like special occasion." 

Sept. 9, 1639: Registration of births, marriages, and 
deaths, expressly required; and to be sent annually to the 
court. 

1640: Matthew Cradock was a member of Parliament 
from London. 

1644: Medford was called to mourn the death of its 
founder, Matthew Cradock, Esq. ; and, in 1649, lost a 
friend and neighbor, in the death of Governor Winthrop. 

1644 : It was customary with the early settlers in 
Medford to attend public worship in the neighboring towns 
when they had no preaching within their own plantation. 
On a sabbath in the year 1644, when it was a serious loss 
to have "the go-to-meeting bonnet " injured, the following 
semi-tragic scene occurred near Mystic Bridge. We give 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 49 1 

the narrative in the words of Governor Winthrop ("Jour- 
nal," vol. ii. p. 161): "One Dalkin and his wife, dwellini^ 
near Meadford, coming from Cambridge, where they had 
spent their sabbath, and being to pass over the river at 
a ford, the tide not being fallen enough, the husband ad- 
ventured over, and, finding it too deep, persuaded his wife 
to stay a while ; but, it raining very sore, she would needs 
adventure over, and was carried away with the stream past 
her depth. Her husband, not daring to go help her, cried 
out ; and thereupon his dog, being at his house near by, 
came forth, and, seeing something in the water, swam to 
her ; and she caught hold of the dog's tail : so he drew 
her to the shore, and saved her life." If, at this time, the 
water was at flood-tide in Medford, there can be no doubt 
that marital chivalry was at a very low ebb. 

March 4, 1645 : " Whereas complaint hath been made 
to this court, that divers persons within this jurisdiction 
do usually absent themselves from church meetings upon 
the Lord's day, power is therefore given to any two assist- 
ants to hear and censure, either by fine or imprisonment 
(at their discretion), all misdemeanors of that kind com- 
mitted by any inhabitant within this jurisdiction, pro- 
vided they exceed not the fine of five shillings for one 
offence." 

1645 • Something may be guessed concerning the state 
of things among the early settlers, when "a man walks on 
snow-shoes five miles to buy a bushel of corn, carries it on 
his back to mill, and thence home." 

May 6, 1646: The General Court forbid all persons 
taking any tobacco within five miles of any house. 

1647: The sum of fifty pounds, and, in 1649, the ad- 
ditional sum of fifty pounds, given, by the will of Matthew 
Cradock, Esq., to the poor of St. Swithin's, are acknowl- 
edged as having been received, and entered in the "Vel- 
lum Book," Oct. 17, 165 I. These sums were laid out in 
building shops against the church wall. 

1647: Charlestown's "part of Mistick Wear was granted 
as an allowance for the town school forever." 

1647 : The General Court invite the Synod to draw up 
"a confession of faith." 

Nov. II, 1647: Medford was under the following law: 
Ordered that no lover shall seek the hand of his chosen 
one till he has asked permission of her parents. Penalty 
for the first offence, ^5 ; for the second, ^10; and for the 



492 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

third, imprisonment. According to this, courting, in those 
days, must hav^e been a very dangerous business. 

Oct. i8, 1648: The coopers united in a company, and 
received from the General Court an Act of incorpora- 
tion. 

May 2, 1649: The General Court say, "Upon the pe- 
tition of Mistick-side men, they are granted to be a dis- 
tinct town, and the name thereof to be called Mauldon''' 

1649: The Middlesex-county records before this date 
are lost, 

1649: "Horses must be registered in a book kept in 
each town." 

In a neighboring town, church troubles ran so high, in 
1650, that they were obliged to call in the civil authori- 
ties. 

1650: "Goodman" and "goodwife" were common ap- 
pellations. " Mr." was applied only to persons of distinc- 
tion. " Esquire " was seldom used : it was esteemed 
above that of "reverend." Mr, Josias Plaistowe took 
corn from the Indians. The General Court ordered him 
to return the corn, and pay a fine ; and " hereafter to be 
called by the name of Josias, and not Mr., as formerly he 
used to be." 

1657 : The name of Jonathan Wade first appears on 
the records of the registry of deeds in Middlesex County, 
June II, 1657. Its next occurrence, May 20, 1662, 

1670 : Some Indian children were brought up in our 
English families, and afterwards became idle and intem- 
perate. A gentleman asked the Indian father why this 
was so. He answered, " Tucks will be tucks, for all old 
hen be hatch 'em." 

1673 : Population of New England, 120,000. Of these, 
16,000 could bear arms. Boston had 1,500 families. In 
1760, New England had 500,000 inhabitants, and 530 
Congregational churches. 

1673: An author says, "At this time, there was not 
a house in New England which had more than twenty 
rooms. There were five hundred persons worth each three 
thousand pounds. The worst cottages were lofted." 

February, 1674: The earliest record of town-meetings 
in Medford, which has escaped destruction, bears the above 
date. 

Before 1676, there were but few settlements more than 
twenty miles from the Atlantic coast. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 493 

1679: "The court decide that it is not lawful for a 
man to marry his former wife's sister." 

In 1690, Medford chose a sealer of weights and meas- 
ures. 

The "oath of fidelity" was often taken in Medford 
during the first century. It differed from the " freeman 
oath." 

1697: "Isaac Royal, merchant, of Boston, was mar- 
ried, by Benjamin Wadsworth, July i, 1697, to Elizabeth, 
only child of Asaph Eliot, of Boston." 

Hon. Isaac Royal chosen moderator of a town-meeting, 
— the first mention of his name on the records (about 

1755)- 

May 3, 1697 : Voted to pay the representative eigh- 
teenpence per day during his service in the General 
Court. 

1699 : John Bradstreet, of Medford, descendant of 
Governor Bradstreet, son of Simon, married his cousin, 
Mercy Wade, of Medford, Oct. 9, 1699. Their children 
were, Dudley, born Oct. 26, 1701, married Sarah Pierce, 
Aug. 18, 1724; Ann, born July 7, 1704; Lucy, born May 
30, 1706; and Patience, born Feb. 13, 1712. Sarah mar- 
ried Rev. John Tufts, of Newbury, who was born in 
Medford. 

Our ancestors generally assembled in town-meeting at 
six o'clock A.M., during the warm weather. 

Nov. 26, 1700: "The above town-meeting was ad- 
journed to the sixth day of December next, to meet at 
the house of Stephen Willis, sen., about sun-setting," 

1700: Meeting-house in Medford so cold that men 
struck their feet together, and children gathered around 
their mothers' foot-stoves. 

1700: At this time, "black dogs" were put into the 
contribution-box in Medford. A silver coin bore this 
nickname. 

1700: Elders and messengers. These titles were used 
in letters missive, till the beginning of this century, to 
designate the pastors and delegates invited to assist in the 
ordination of ministers. 

1700: Charlestown voted "that all the waste land be- 
longing to the town, on the north side of Mystic River, 
should be divided, and laid out equally, to every person 
an equal share that hath been an inhabitant of this town 
six years, and is twenty-one years old; and the like share 



494 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

to all widows, householders, that have been six years in- 
habitants." 

1703 : A terrific storm occurred in England. Bishop 
Kidder, bishop of Bath and Wells, was killed, with his 
wife, by the falling of chimneys upon them, while in bed 
in the palace at Wells. He was kinsman of the Kidders 
of Medford. Mrs. Samuel Kidder, formerly of Medford, 
was a descendant of Rev. John Rogers the martyr. 

In 1712 a day-laborer in Medford was allowed two shil- 
lings ; for a team, one day, five shillings. 

The Rev. Aaron Porter's signature may be seen in the 
town-records, under date of May 15 and Aug. 20, 1717. 

June 12, 1717 : There was a hearing before the coun- 
cil concerning the question, whether Cambridge or Charles- 
town should be the shire-town of Middlesex County. Judge 
Sewall says : " Mr. Auchmuty pleaded very well for 
Charlestown. His discourse was very well worth hearing. 
Mr. Remington alleged and proved for Cambridge very 
pertinately and fully. It was decided for Cambridge on 
the 13th." Then came the question of concurrence before 
the House of Deputies. It was a close vote. The judge 
says : " Could not tell by lifting up the hands : were fain 
to divide the house. They for Cambridge went to the 
north side ; they for Charlestown, to the south. Cam- 
bridge had forty-six, Charlestown forty-one." 

1718 : Ruth Albree, daughter of John Albree, after- 
wards the mother of John Brooks, was baptized IMay 4, 
1 718, and was taken into church Jan. 24, 1743. 

May 12, 1718 : "Put to vote, whether persons hiring 
any persons, or leasing out tenements, in Medford, may 
be obliged to acquaint the selectmen therewith, or liable 
to some fine. Voted in the negative." 

1720: Tea began to be used in Medford. 

1721 : Medford voted to turn the road away from a 
house while the small-pox was in that house. 

Aug. 14, 1721 : " Sundry inhabitants on the north 
side of Mystic River, who desired to be set off from 
Charlestown to Maiden," were refused their petition by 
Charlestown. From the earliest times, there seems to 
have been a strong desire to break away from Charles- 
town. At first, it was the largest town in the colony; 
but town after town has been severed from it, till it lost 
its identity as a town by being annexed to Boston, by an 
Act of the Legislature, May 14, 1873. 



HISTORY OF Af ED FORD. 



495 



In the graveyard at Maiden, we find the following 



"Here lies buried the body of Capt. Peter Tufts, who died Sept. 20, 

1721, aged 73 years. 

"Also the body of Mrs. Alercy Tufts, wife of Capt. Peter Tufts, who 

died June 18, 171 5, aged 48 years. 

" Mercy, daughter of Seaborn Cotton, was born Nov. 3, 
1666. She married Capt. Peter Tufts, of Medford. Her 
grandfather was Rev. John Cotton, of England, a very 
distinguished divine." Dr. Simon Tufts, of Medford, was 
the youngest son of Peter and Mercy Tufts. 

1727 : Mr. Thomas Seccomb left valuable records, in 
manuscript, containing a notice of every clergyman who 
preached in Medford, and all the texts preached from, be- 
tween 1727 and 1774; also a record of all baptisms and 
all contributions. 

Book No. I begins Sept. 3, 1727, and ends June i, 1736. 
No. 2 begins June 20, 1736, and ends Feb. 28, 1745. No. 3 
begins March 3, 1745, and ends Dec. 3, 1767. No. 4 begins 
Dec. 20, 1767, and ends May i, 1774. 

In the second meeting-house, 5,134 sermons were 
preached, and 1,218 persons were baptized. 

Oct. 29, 1727 : The great earthquake occurred on this 
day (Sunday) ; and the selectmen of Medford appointed 
the next Wednesday, Nov. 2, to be observed as a day of 
fasting and humiliation on that account. 

September, 1729: The Yankee habit of using a jack- 
knife on all occasions and in all places seems to have given 
our town some trouble ; for at this time they resolve, by 
a public vote, to prosecute those persons who have cut the 
seats of the new meeting-house. 

Feb. 17, 1731 : Mr. Turell says in his record, "Mar- 
ried, standing togctJicTy William Watson and Abigail Hall." 

1735 : Sampson, a negro slave, was sorely frightened 
by a wild bear and cub, which he met in the woods, near 
Governor Cradock's house. In a rock on the north-east 
border of Medford, near the corner of Melrose, is a deep 
excavation, called Bears Den. 

Oct. 8, 1738 : Governor Belcher attended meeting in 
Medford, Sunday. Rev. Mr. Turell preached. 

July, 1743: A species of very destructive worm ap- 
peared. They destroyed both grass and corn. Mr. Turell 
preached, July 3, on the event, from Lam. iii. 39, and 
Ezek. xviii. 25. 



496 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

1744. : A long-tailed comet, of unusual brightness, 
frightened some of our people more than Mr. VVhitefield 
had; but a wag here said, that he "thought it the most 
profitable itinerant preacher and friendly new-light that 
had yet appeared." 

1745: Medford voted thus: Any person who allows 
his dog to go into the meeting-house on Sunday shall pay 
ten shillings (old tenor) for each offence. 

1749: Some idea of travelling expenses may be ob- 
tained from the acts of the town relative to their farm on 
the Piscataqua River. They wished to sell the farm for 
two thousand pounds (old tenor), and therefore chose 
Lieut. Stephen Hall, jun., and Capt. Samuel Brooks, to 
go to Portsmouth, N. H., and settle some claims per- 
taining to the land ; and they voted forty pounds (old 
tenor) to be given them, to bear the expenses of the 
journey. 

Robert Burns is a name that frequently occurs in the 
Medford records about the middle of the eighteenth cen- 
tury. 

1750: The various spelling of proper names by the 
different town-clerks of Medford sometimes makes it dif- 
ficult to determine how families spelled their own names. 

1 750: A gallows and a whipping-post stood near Por- 
ter's tavern, in Cambridge ; and this gave rise to the 
schoolboy strophe : — 

" Cambridge is a famous town, 
Both for wit and knowledge : 
Some they whip, and some they hang, 
And some they send to college." 

Sept. 3, 1752: The Protestants in England adopted 
the 1st of January as the beginning of the year, instead 
of the 25th of March : and Sept. 3 was changed to 
Sept. 14. 

Jan. 29, 1753 : "Dr. Simon Tufts, and Lucy Tufts his 
wife, of Medford, gave a quitclaim deed to Thomas Dud- 
ley, of all their right to the property of their honored 
father, William Dudley, Esq., of Roxbury." 

In 1755 Massachusetts raised a large part of the two 
thousand troops who were to dislodge the French neutrals 
in Nova Scotia. Medford furnished its share. These 
Acadians were conquered, and they and their effects scat- 
tered through the Colonies, One thousand of the wretched 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



497 



and proscribed sufferers were distributed in Massachu- 
setts. Eight of them were cared for in Medford. They 
staid a long time, and the kindness of our people lecon- 
ciled them to their lot. The family of Le Bosquet was 
one that remained here. 

May lo, 1756: "Voted that the money gathered on 
Thanksgiving-days be given to the poor by the deacons." 
This was the beginning of that excellent custom. 

1757: Stephen Hall gave one hundred pounds (old 
tenor) for the purchase of a funeral-pall, which should 
belong to the town. Whereupon, voted that it should be 
free for the town ; but that " half a dollar shall be paid for 
its use whenever it goes out of town." 

1758: Rev. Ebenezer Turell wrote his first will, in 
which he gave the house he purchased of John Giles to 
the church in Medford, "for the use of the ministry for- 
ever." He afterwards wrote two different wills. The 
bonds and mortgages owned by him in 1772 amounted to 
£4,860. 

1759: In recording marriages, the Rev. Mr. Turell 
often designated the trade or profession of the bride- 
groom. Jan. 4, 1759, he married a man, and called him 
"a ranger." 

1759: The first time of using the silver baptismal 
basin was Sept. 9, 1759, when Benjamin, son of Benjamin 
Francis, was baptized. The last baptism in the second 
meeting-house was of Rhoda, daughter of Moses Tufts, 
Feb. 4, 1770. The first in the new meeting-house was 
Lydia, daughter of Samuel Teel, March 18, 1770. 

1760: The word dollar occurs in the Medford records 
for the first time. 

1761 : The first record of any vote of thanks in Med- 
ford bears date of May 13, 1761, "thanking Mr. Thomas 
Brooks for his good services as treasurer." 

1762 : Wages for a man's labor one day, three shillings 
and fourpence (lawful money) ; for a man and team, six 
shillings and eightpence. 

Nov. I, 1763 : The Stamp Act went into operation. 

In 1763, there were nine hundred and five full-blooded 
Indians in the Old Colony. 

Sept. 7, 1767: Voted that the one hundred and three 
hymns, written by Dr. Watts be used in public worship, 
in connection with Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms. 

Thomas Seccomb was town-clerk for twenty-two years, 



49S HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

and resigned in 1767. He wrote a very legible hand, 
spelled his words properly, and was the only person in 
Medford who seemed to have any care for records, or any 
thought of posterity in them. 

Oct. 13, 1768: Rev. Edward Brooks preached for Mr. 
Turell. 

Royalton, Worcester County, Mass., was named in 
honor of Colonel Royal of Medford. 

March 26, 1770: "Last Tuesday, Henry Lloyd, Esq., 
set out on a journey to New York, Philadelphia, and the 
Southern colonies ; and it was observed that the gentle- 
man's whole apparel and house furniture were of American 
manufacture. His clothes, linen, shoes, stockings, boots, 
gloves, hat, even wig and wig-call, were all manufactured 
and made up in New England. An example truly worthy 
of imitation." 

May 14, 1772: "Voted that the selectmen give liberty 
to Mr. Noah Floyd to build a shop on his land before the 
meeting-house." 

1772: For a day's labor by a man, three shillings and 
sixpence ; for a man and team, six shillings and eight- 
pence. 

1772 : Medford chose bread-weighers. 

1774: An old house, owned and kept as a tavern by 
Eben. Hills, stood in the market-place. This year, it was 
purchased by Mr. Jonathan Porter, and kept by him as a 
tavern and a store, and was a favorite resort for British 
and Hessian officers during the Revolution. Li 1785 
Mr. Porter took down the house, discontinued the tavern, 
and built his private residence and store on the spot, where 
they continue to this day. 

1775 : Before the battle of Bunker Hill, General Stark 
fixed his headquarters at Medford, in the house built by 
Mr. Jonathan Wade, near the Medford House, on the east 
side of the street. After the battle, twenty-five of the 
general's men, who had been killed, were brought here, 
and buried in the field about fifty or sixty rods north of 
Gravelly Bridge. Their bones were found, in 1849, by 
Mr, John Russell, when digging for a cellar on what is 
now Water Street. The selectmen took charge of them. 
In their report to the town, 1848-49, is the following item : 
'* Cash paid Jacob Brooks for burying box of bones, from 
land of N. H. Bishop, supposed to be the bones of Rev- 
olutionary soldiers, ^2.50." 










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K?ri 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. ^qj(^ 

1775: Our patriot fathers cut down those "white-pine 
trees which his Majesty had reserved for the use of his 
royal navy," and supplied the American troops with fuel 
at Cambridge and Charlestown. 

1775 : Major Andrew McClary, of Colonel Stark's regi- 
ment, was a brave and good man. After the battle of 
Bunker Hill, he rode to Medford to procure bandages for 
the wounded. After his return, a shot from a frigate, 
lying where Cragie's Bridge is, passed through his body. 
" He leaped a few feet from the ground, pitched forward, 
and fell dead on his face. He was carried to Med lord, 
and interred with the honors of war." He lies about fifty 
or sixty rods north of the old burying-ground. 

June 16, 1775 : Colonel Dearborn's troops, from New 
Hampshire, stopped in Medford through the night, and 
marched for Winter Hill early on the morning of the 17th. 

February, 1776: While the British troops held pos- 
session of Boston, an English officer, in disguise, left the 
town, and came to Medford to see a friend who was dan- 
gerously ill ; and, although he came under cover of the 
night, the Americans in Charlestown suspected him, and 
followed him to Medford. His apprehension and death 
were almost certain. What to do, or where to fly, he 
knew not; but to decide speedily was imperative. He 
knocked at the door of Benjamin Hall, Esq., and asked 
to see that gentleman in his entry. The servant told 
him that Mr. Hall could not be disturbed, because be was 
engaged at a sitting of the "Vigilance Committee"! 
" Good heavens ! " he exclaimed to himself, " here I am 
in the lion's mouth." Rallying from this surprise, he told 
the servant to "go and ask Mr. Hall to step here a mo- 
ment." She went ; and soon Mr. Hall appeared, leaving 
behind him Joshua Symonds, Samuel Kidder, Stephen 
Hall, jun., and Ebenezer Hall. The stranger asked an 
interview alone for an instant. They went together into 
a side room, when he said to Mr. Hall, " I come to put 
myself under your protection. I am a British officer. I 
came to Medford to see a sick friend. I am pursued, and 
shall be killed if I am caught. I throw myself on your 
magnanimity." Mr. Hall replied, "You could not have 
appealed to any man who feels less sympathy with your 
cause. I go, with all my head and heart and hand, for 
the freedom of the Colonies, and the 'Vigilance Com- 
mittee ' of this town is this moment in session in an 



500 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

adjoining room ; and, if I were suspected of harboring a 
British officer, should be mobbed. You must leave my 
house immediately." The officer replied, that he was 
ready to make any concessions or promises, and was ready 
to die ; but did not wish to be seized by an infuriated 
soldiery, and hung on the first tree. He therefore only 
asked to be shielded for a few hours. Mr. Hall now felt 
that protection to such an unarmed man was an act of 
magnanimity ; and, making the distinction between a 
private gentleman and a public enemy, he took a candle, 
and told the officer to follow him. He led him into his 
garret, and secreted him behind some old boxes, having 
made him promise to leave the house at midnight. The 
officer was perfectly happy, wedged in between the bags 
and barrels of a dusty garret ; and there he lay, in total 
darkness, till the promised hour, when Mr. Hall showed 
him the front door ; and he went in safety, thanking his 
generous enemy as the savior of his life. 

Jan. 4, 1779: Our town-record reads thus: "Mr. Jona- 
than Patten says he will use his endeavor that Mr. Foster 
shall not use any more charcoal in the blacksmith-shop 
near the bridge ; and, if he still persists in using charcoal, 
that he, the said Patten, will desire Mr. Foster to quit the 
shop." 

May 19, 1780: This was the Dark Day. By ten 
o'clock A.M., it had the appearance of night. Pomp, a 
negro in Medford, became frightened, and, going to his 
master, said, " Massa, the day of judgment has come : 
what shall I do.-'" — " Why, Pomp, you'd better wash up 
clean, and put on your Sunday clothes." Pomp, perceiv- 
ing that his master was not frightened, began to produce 
proofs. " Massa, it has come ; for the hens are all going 
to roost." — " Well, Pomp, they show their sense." — " And 
the tide, massa, in the river, has stopped running." — 
"Well, Pomp, it always does at high water." — "But, 
massa, it feels cold ; and this darkness grows more and 
more." — "So much the better. Pomp; for the day of 
judgment will be all fire and light." Pomp concluded not 
to wash up, but wait. This same Pomp, the slave of 
Thomas Brooks, when he slaughtered hogs, was in the 
habit, for convenience, of hanging the carcasses, to pre- 
pare them, on the north limb of the now large black- 
walnut tree standing in what was then the rear of Mr. 
Brooks's house. This limb is now (1884) twelve feet 




^ 







HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 501 

from the ground, and nine feet three inches in circum- 
ference ; the tree itself being nineteen feet eight inches 
round at the base. Pompey was inherited by Thomas 
Brooks, from his father Samuel, whose will is dated Sept. 
6, 1762. He disposes by name of his various slaves, and 
amongst other valuables, bequeathes to Thomas: "my 
negro lad Pompey ; I also give him my silver-hilted 
sword." 

1781 : "New-England money." This epithet is used 
in the Medford records, for the first time, in 1781, when 
the town voted to raise one thousand three hundred 
pounds, to pay interest on their debt. 

1781 : When the news of the surrender of Lord Corn- 
wallis reached Medford, 1781, the inhabitants immediately 
testified their joy by a bonfire on the top of Pasture Hill. 
Wood and rags, covered with tar, were the inflammable 
materials used to express the jubilation. 

The first register of deeds in Middlesex County chosen, 
Dec. 20, 1784. There was but one candidate, — William 
Winthrop, Esq., — who received seventeen votes in Med- 
ford. 

1785 : "Aunt Jenny" Watts, of Medford, carried baked 
puddings and beans, on horseback, in market -baskets, 
to Cambridge College twice each week, and would retail 
her load only to undergraduates ! *• 

Aug. 7, 1786: For the first time, Medford granted 
liberty of building horse-sheds behind the meeting-house. 

Rev. Mr. Osgood boarded many years in the family of 
Deacon Richard Hall, and a very close intimacy blessed 
both parties afterwards. On a Sunday, Mrs. Hall was 
taken ill in church, and her husband went out with her. 
After some time, the deacon returned. As soon as he 
had shut the door, Mr. Osgood stopped in his sermon, and 
said, " Mr. Hall, how is aunt now } " — " She is better," was 
the reply. 

1789: Thomas Brooks, Esq., acquired great popularity 
as one of the "marrying justices." One day, while riding 
on horseback to Woburn, he discovered a party of six 
young persons — three male, and three female — riding on 
horseback towards him. He guessed their errand ; and 
they guessed that the cocked hat, bush-wig, and silver 
buckles approaching them must belong to "the squire." 
Both parties stopped. The bridegroom announced his 
wishes, and the squire replied thus: " My young friends, 



502 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

wc arc here in the midst of this lofty forest, upon an 
unfrequented road, with God's clear sky over us, and his 
green earth under us. We shall not be disturbed. I 
propose to solemnize your marriage here : what say you }" 
They gladly consented. He told them not to dismount, 
but to arrange themselves in due order, — the gentlemen 
on one side, and the ladies on the other. This being done, 
he placed his horse so as to be directly in front of the 
bride and bridegroom. Then, taking off his hat, he began 
his prayer ; and report says that he was "gifted in prayer," 
and that, on this occasion, "he prayed like an angel." 
The introductory service concluded, the plight of vows 
was made, the union declared, and the benediction pro- 
nounced ; and then the whole party journeyed back to- 
gether, rejoicing in the poetry appended to the great 
event. 

March 5, 1792: Isaac Floyd chosen sexton. This is 
the first time an officer with this name appears on our 
records. 

Jan. I, 1794: Voted that the selectmen purchase a new 
cushion for the pulpit. 

May 12, 1794: A new pew in Medford meeting-house 
sold at auction, at twenty-four pounds. In the same year, 
good oak wood sold at one pound per cord. 

After Sept. i, 1795, all accounts in Medford were kept 
in dollars, cents, and mills. 

1797: Mrs. Benjamin Hall presented the town with a 
funeral-pall, suitable to be used at the burial of young 
persons. 

1800: About this time the "Ohio Fever" prevailed; 
and some from Medford emigrated to that Western land 
of promise. They prospered greatly. A member of the 
United-States Senate, Hon. Benjamin Wade of Ohio, who 
became so justly renowned in the anti-slavery struggle in 
Congress, was descended from the oldest Medford stock. 

1800: After this time, "commonable beasts" — i. e., 
horses, oxen, cows, sheep, and hogs — were not allowed to 
go at large in the public roads. 

1801 : The first "clerk of the market " chosen, March 2, 
1801. 

1804: During the first part of Rev. Dr. Osgood's minis- 
try, the number of children baptized, in each year, was 
about fifteen ; which number steadily increased till it 
reached its maximum, of forty-one, in 1804. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 503 

1805 : Health Committee chosen for the first time.. 
Does this show the healthiness of the town ? 

1805 : The Meclford omnibus, named " Governor Brooks,."" 
was said to be the first vehicle of the kind built in New 
England, It was made by Mr. Osgood Bradley, of Worces- 
ter, Mass.; and first appeared on its route, Oct. 18, 1836. 
It cost $650. Eighteen persons could be seated inside, 
and six outside. It was owned and driven by Mr. Joseph 
Wyman, of Medford, who began his new business Feb. 
16, 1805 ; and, for thirty years, drove daily a public coach 
between Medford and Boston, without overturning it. 
The fare was thirty-seven and a half cents for many years, 
but competition reduced it to twenty-five. 

1808: In the public school, an assistant teacher is pro- 
vided for the first time. 

1808: Digging for hidden money, near the "Rock 
Landing," was three times repeated by (as is said) Mr. 
James Francis of Medford, and Mr. James Hall of Charles- 
town. We remember seeing the three excavations. The 
first, on the southern brow of Rock Hill, was a hole four 
feet deep and four feet in diameter, and was enclosed 
within a small circular furrow dug in the earth. The 
work was done in the night. The second, in Mr. Jona- 
than Brooks's land, was within thirty feet of the river, and, 
was small in circumference, and quite deep. The third, 
was within ten feet of the river, by the bathing-rock. It 
disclosed a cave walled up on each side, and arched ; its 
length about six feet, its width three, and its height three. 
The rocks were red, and so soft that they were ground and. 
used in painting Captain Richardson's house. No rocks 
of that kind are known in this country. These diggings 
were at different times, but no one has ever told what 
success attended the explorations. Other small trials were 
made in the eastern part of the town. Spirits are now 
substituted for witch-hazel. 

1808: Snowballing. At this time the boys who lived 
east of the meeting-house were called maggots, and they 
who lived west of it were called fag-endcrs. Between 
these parties the most furious and unbrotherly battles 
were fought each winter with snowballs. Snow forts were 
erected behind the meeting-house ; and so high ran the 
spirit of contest, that the boys from the east procured a 
small cannon, which they loaded so heavily, that, on its 
discharge, it burst, and wounded a boy in the face severely. 



504 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

1806 : Two representatives to the General Court elected 
in Medford. 

1809: The number of deaths in Medford, between 1774 
and 1809, was 701. 

1810: Medford had a large choir of volunteer singers, 
under the faithful Ephraim Bailey. On Sunday, once, the 
pitch-pipe set the pitch so high that the whole choir broke 
down. Still, Bailey tried on the second verse, and again 
broke down. General Brooks could not endure it any 
longer ; and he rose in his pew, beckoned to Bailey, and 
said, *' Hadn't you better take another pitch ? " Bailey 
replied, " No, sir: I guess we can get through it." 

181 1, May 13: "Voted to instruct the representative 
of Medford in the General Court to oppose the petition of 
Peter Tufts, praying to be set off to Charlestown." The 
petition was granted. 

1814; The free seats near the pulpit in the meeting- 
house, which were formerly occupied by aged men and 
women, were sold, and two pews built in their place. 

181 5 : Nahant Parties. — At this time, when only a few 
persons resided at Nahant, it was the custom for families 
in Medford to join in a party to that beautiful promontory. 
From ten to twenty chaises would start together ; and, 
reaching Mr. Breed's, the ladies and gentlemen, girls 
and boys, would proceed to fishing from the rocks and 
boats. Each one wore the commonest clothes, and the 
day was passed in all sorts of sports. A fish-dinner was 
an agreed part of the fare ; and a supper at Lynn Hotel 
closed the eating of the day. The party rode home by 
moonlight, and by ten o'clock were tired enough to go 
to bed. 

181 5 : About this time the "sheep-fever" prevailed. It 
was caused by the importation from Spain of a few merino 
sheep of a breed that country had not previously allowed 
to leave its shores. The large sheep-owners coveted them, 
and prices ruled at from four hundred to twelve hundred 
dollars each. Mr. Nathaniel Hall of Medford paid six 
hundred dollars for one. A second importation killed the 
fever, and brought financial ruin to some of its victims. 

Dec. 10, 1816 : The town of Brooks, in Hancock County, 
Me., containing 13,744 acres, was named in honor of the 
Governor. 

The first time any meeting-house in Medford had been 
heated by a stove was Dec. 18, 1820. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



505 



1825 : Medford has not been a resort for Jews ; but 
it had one who is remembered with interest, — Abraham 
Touro, eminent for his social and generous qualities. 
When General Lafayette reached Massachusetts, Mr, 
Touro offered him his noble horse for his entrance into 
Boston. On the day of that triumphant entry, Mr. Touro 
was standing in his chaise, to catch his first sight of the 
illustrious visitor, when a sudden start of his horse threw 
him from his place, and broke his leg. The fracture was 
a very bad one, and the patient grew worse daily. The 
physicians and surgeons did all they could, and finally 
assured him that nothing but amputation could save his 
life. With a Jew's traditionary prejudice against that 
operation, he firmly answered thus : '' No I I will never go 
into heaven with one leg." 

He left about two hundred thousand dollars ; and dis- 
tributed it, by will, in legacies varying from five to twenty 
thousand dollars. He gave much in charity. He left a 
large sum to keep the synagogue in Newport, R. I., in 
good repair. 

1825 : Parties in the Woods. — Within the first twenty 
years of this century, it was customary for select parties of 
girls and boys, in whortleberry-time, to go into the woods 
near Pine Hill, or at the Bovver, and there frolic in true 
rustic style. A long extempore table was crowded with 
eatables, which had been contributed by the several mem- 
bers of the party. Rural dresses and schoolboy manners 
gave zest to the occasion ; while dancing on the grass al- 
lowed all to join. The coming home in procession, or in 
carts, gave the last touch to the jubilant scene. 

May 4, 1829, the streets in Medford received their 
names. 

1829: Voted that each owner of a dog shall pay $1.25 
annually as a tax : also that each dog shall wear a collar; 
and, if found without one, its owner shall pay $10. 

1830: Voted to have the bell rung at twelve m. and 
nine p.m. 

June 25, 1835: The Boston and Lowell Railroad was 
opened. 

June 27, its first advertisement appeared, as follows : 

"The cars will continue to run, till further notice, as at present, 
viz. : Leave Lowell at 6 A. M. and 12.30 p.m. Leave Boston at 9 a.m. 
and 5.30 P.M. No baggage can be taken except what belongs to pas- 
sengers. Allowance to each, forty pounds. As soon as burthen cars 



506 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

can be provided, notice will be given for tlie transi^ortation of mer- 
chandise. 

" Tickets may be had at the depot, corner of Leverett and Brighton 
Streets. Price, $i.oo." 

1836 : Mrs. John Fulton, who died this year, aged ninety- 
five, was one of those who helped to dress the wounds of 
the soldiers who were in the battle of Bunker Hill. Many 
of the wounded soldiers were brought to Medford. She 
was a true patriot, and General Washington honored her 
with a visit. At that time they had bought a punch-bowl, 
and the general was the first person who drank out of it. 
The bowl was afterwards owned by Mr. Frederick Bradlee, 
of Boston. Mr. John Fulton, of Medford, was cousin to 
Mr. Robert Fulton, the inventor of steamboats ; and they 
were once prisoners together. Mrs. Fulton's mother was 
a Wier, who came over with the " Scotch-Irish " company. 

March 3, 1840: Voted to dispense with having a clerk 
of the market. 

Mr. TureWs Portrait. — In " Church Records," vol. iii. 
p. 104, are the following : 

" 1842, July : The church received, from the hand of Dudley Hall, 
a bequest of the late Turell Tufts, Esq., — two pieces of plate for the 
communion-table, and a portrait of the Rev. Mr. Turell, one of the 
former pastors of this church. 

" Aug. 7 : At a meeting of the church this day, a letter was read 
by Dudley Hall, from Samuel Turell Armstrong, requesting the 
church to transfer to him, during his lifetime, the above-mentioned 
portrait of Mr. Turell. The church voted unanimously that this re- 
quest be complied with ; and that Dudley Hall, the treasurer, be 
authorized to deliver the portrait to Mr. Armstrong." 

1854 : Captain Duncan Ingraham married the widow of 
Dr. Simon Tufts, as his second wife, and resided in Med- 
ford. By his first wife he had a son, named Nathaniel, 
who endeavored to force back into slavery Cxsar, a Malay. 
Nathaniel had a son, named Duncan N., who attended our 
public schools, and is remembered as a boy of spirit and 
force. He has rendered himself famous by his bold 
conduct at Smyrna in the rescue of a Hungarian. So 
popular was his action, that even the working-classes of 
England united to present to him a valuable chronometer. 
It bore the following inscription : "Presented to Captain 
Ingraham, of the United States Navy, by some thousands 
of the British working-classes, for his noble conduct in 
rescuing, Martin Koszta, the Hungarian refugee, from the 
Austrian authorities, April, 1854." 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 507 

1855 : Mr. Benjamin Noyes, son of Benjamin, was born 
in West Medford, and educated at the public school. He 
was head engineer in constructing one hundred miles of 
railroad for the Emperor of the Russias. 

March i, 1874: The following resolutions were offered 
at town-meeting, and by unanimous vote were passed, and 
ordered to be spread on the records of the town : — 

" Whereas, The sad tidings of the death of Charles Sumner, our 
Senator in Congress, have just reached us : 

" Resolved, That we, the citizens of Medford, in town-meeting as- 
sembled, are unwilling to forego the privilege of giving expression to 
the feelings of profound grief which possess our hearts, as we realize 
the loss which the State and nation have experienced, in the death of 
a wise and patriotic statesman, a noble and strenuous advocate of the 
broadest humanitarian principles, and a citizen whose career has given 
a new brilliancy to the record of illustrious names that have graced 
our country's history. 

" Resolved, That while indulging the natural sorrow that accompa- 
nies such an event, we recur, with pride and gratitude, to the great 
service which our departed senator has rendered his country through a 
long period of national conflict; to his eloquent appeals to the hearts 
of his countrymen to remove the great sin of slavery; to his noble 
championship of the rights of the oppressed, in every land; and to the 
illustrious example of purity and self-devotion, which his life affords. 

" Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be entered on the 
records of the town." 

1875 : Medford having received invitations from the 
towns of Concord and Lexington to participate in their 
centennial anniversary of the opening of the Revolution- 
ary War, the town at its meeting, March 8, chose Daniel 
A. Gleason, Charles Russell, and J. H. Norcross as its 
representatives at Lexington ; and James M. Usher, Elea- 
zar Boynton, and R. P. Hallowell as its representatives at 
Concord. 

1878: The telephone was introduced herein January, 
1878. The first public exhibition of it was given March 
23, 1878, at Usher's Hall, West Medford, by P. D. Rich- 
ards, when several tests were given, in singing, speaking, 
and cornet-playing, with most gratifying results. The 
telephone is now used in most of the public buildings, and 
in many private dwellings of the town. 

1880: In rebuilding the Cradock Bridge, some of the 
timbers which served as the foundation of the original 
corduroy bridge, built two hundred and forty-one years 
before, were raised from the bed of the river, and found 
to be in sound condition. 



508 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Feb. 22, 1884: Direct mail between Medford and West 
Medford was established. 

1885 : A singular instance of regularity in business 
habits, and of daily pedestrianism, is found in a Medford 
man. Mr. David W. Lothrop, who has lived in his own 
house, on Purchase Street, since March i, 1853, has pur- 
chased season tickets for Boston, on the Boston and Low- 
ell Railroad, covering the whole time from that date to the 
present. His residence is a small fraction short of a mile 
from the depot at West Medford. If it were a full mile, 
he would have walked, on that road, 626 miles every year, 
and in the thirty years since he began to go into the city 
every day he would have travelled 18,780 miles. Deduct- 
ing the fractional part less than a mile, which in thirty 
years amounted to 1,556, it leaves as the actual distance 
he would have walked, if he had gone to the city every 
working-day, 17,264 miles. 

But he failed to make the journey, on an average, once 
in nine weeks ; and, deducting that, he actually walked to 
and from the depot, in thirty years, a little more than 
16,904 miles, and was at his place of business, in Boston, 
on 9,030 days during that time. 

1885 : William ' and Hannah Roach are to be classed 
among the permanent residents of Medford. William 
was born in 1809, and his sister in 18 10. Their father 
and mother moved into the house which William and 
Hannah now occupy, the year that Hannah was born, and 
lived there until their death. The father passed away in 
1 82 1, and the mother in 1827 ; and the worthy couple have 
lived there together from that day to this, or nearly sev- 
enty-six years in all. 

Whether either of them ever journeyed beyond Boston, 
the writer is not informed. They certainly have not man- 
ifested a roving disposition. 

INDIAN BURIAL-PLACE. 

Mention has been made, in an early part of this volume, 
of the discovery of an old Indian burial-place in West 
Medford, on the land of the late Edward Brooks. In 
1882, in grading for a new building near the stone bridge 
which stands on the same estate, and which once spanned 
the Middlesex Canal, another burial-place of the Indians 

' William Roach died in April, i8S6. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 509 

was found, and parts of several skeletons exhumed. They 
were doubtless the mortal remains of members of that 
tribe of which the pious Sagamore John was chief, and 
which, at the time of the settlement of the town, was oc- 
cupying the lands in this vicinity. Under the direction of 
Mr. Francis Brooks, these relics of the Mystic Indians 
were carefully collected and re-buried; and in 1884, with 
characteristic reverence for the old traditions, he placed 
a monument on the spot, bearing the date-marks, 1630- 
1884, and with an inscription dedicating it to Sagamore 
John and to the memory of the Indians who lie buried 
there. 

THE MIDDLESEX FELLS.^ 

This name has been given to the rocky and hilly region 
mostly in Medford and Stoneham, surrounding the beauti- 
ful lake of nearly three hundred acres which received 
from Gov. John Winthrop, its discoverer, the name of 
"Spot Pond." When covered with its primitive forests 
of pine, hemlock, beech, maple, oak, ash, and chestnut, 
this tract of some six or seven square miles was in the 
highest degree picturesque, and, in its present denuded 
condition, has many features of rare loveliness. Its rocks 
are of the Laurentian type ; and it was once, quite mani- 
festly, a centre of volcanic action. The thickly scattered 
crags left by the outbursts of fire were subsequently much 
smoothed over by glacial action, and soil enough has been 
deposited for the growth of trees, but giving very small 
opportunity for agriculture. Nevertheless, our hardy pro- 
genitors divided it into farms, and attacked the forests with 
axes and sawmills. Very little now exists to* testify to 
former habitancy, except wild apple-trees and the ancient 
stone walls. Human population has, for at least a hun- 
dred years, been receding from it, in spite of the efforts 
which have been made to attract the wealthy people of 
Boston to make their summer residences on the eastern 
shore of the pond. Mere wood-lots have succeeded to 
farms. The prevalence of forest fires has prevented the 
pines, which the high prices of lumber and fuel had tempt- 
ed their owners to cut down, from re-clothing the hill-tops. 

' The reader is referred to an interestinc; monos;raph on the Middlesex Fells, by 
Rosewell B. Lawrence, Esq., of JNIedford, published by the .Appalachian Muiuuain 
Club, 1SS6. It contains a map of the district. 



5 TO HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Thus it has come to pass that a tract of four thousand 
acres, within twenty minutes ride of Boston, which with 
a little intelligent care might be clothed with perennial 
green, and contribute to the knowledge, health, and hap- 
piness of hundreds of thousands of people, is little better 
than a waste, on its way to join the arid deserts. The 
most important desiderata of a dense population are pure 
air and pure water. These must be seasonably provided 
for, or we are storing up the seeds of pestilence and death. 
Forests purify the air ; and, by excluding dense popula- 
tion from the water-shed of the drinkable supply, they not 
only secure the requisite quantity, but preserve the purity 
also. 

For some years past, such lovers of nature and thought- 
ful men as Elizur Wright, Wilson Flagg, and the late John 
Owen of Cambridge, and such practical philanthropists as 
Elisha S. Converse of Maiden, and many others, ha\'c been 
urging the people to have the whole of this tract, and 
especially all of it which contributes to the water-supply of 
the surrounding population, converted into a public domain, 
or forest park. Their efforts have resulted in the passage 
by the Legislature of a general forest law, which only 
needs to be acted on by the people of the Commonwealth 
generally, to put at least one-fourth of the rugged surface 
of Massachusetts in a way to contribute many times more 
to health, pleasure, and profit, than it now does ; it having 
been demonstrated by experience in Europe, that, by 
treating a forest scientifically for fifty years, land which 
is quite unfit for agriculture may be made to yield annu- 
ally more value per acre than land fit for grain crops, and 
with less labor. And all the while the prosperity of the 
forests will enhance that of the grain crops. 

Whatever may be done by the State at large in the 
work of forest culture, it is earnestly to be hoped, that 
the towns which include this fine natural park may be 
enabled to preserve it as a public domain. It can hardly 
be expected that small municipalities will burden them- 
selves with the whole expense of such an undertaking ; 
but a park is needed on the northern side of Boston, for 
the benefit of that portion of its people to wliom the pro- 
jected southern parks are comparativelv unavailable ; and 
the as yet unoccupied tract of the Middlesex Fells is the 
natural pleasure-ground of this great population. We 
may hope that some of the wealthy and large-hearted 







MAJOR GENERAL JOHN BROOKS. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



511 



men of Boston, who are always within call when a great 
good is to be done, will see to it, that these picturesque 
lands, stamped with the impress of all that is most typical 
of our rugged New-England scenery, are preserved to the 
dense population which will surround them, to be to them 
a perpetual source of health and delight. 

Only let them not be too much improved by the hand 
of man. It is enough, if the now hidden beauties of 
copse and glen be made accessible by winding carriage- 
roads, and the simplest footpaths. Let the rest be left 
to the intelligent supervision of the forester ; but more 
largely still to the tender care of — nature. 

GOVERNORS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 

For convenience of reference, we have thought it well 
to introduce into this volume a list of the Governors of 
Massachusetts. 

Until 1 63 1, governors were elected by the Company in 
England. 

From 163 1 to 1679, those ofificers were chosen here by 
the people, and were as follows : viz., — 



I63I. 


John Winthrop. 


1646. 


John Winthrop 


1634. 


Thomas Dudley. 


1649. 


John Endicott. 


1635- 


John Haynes. 


1650. 


Thomas Dudley. 


1636. 


Henry Vane. 


165 1. 


John Endicott. 


1637- 


John Winthrop. 


1654. 


Richard Bellingham. 


1640. 


Thomas Dudley. 


1655. 


John Endicott. 


I64I. 


Richard Bellingham. 


1665. 


Richard Bellingham 


1642. 


John Winthrop. 


1673- 


John Leverett. 


1644. 


John Endicott. 


1679. 


Simon Bradstreet. 


1645. 


Thomas Dudley. 







After the flrst charter was dissolved in 1684, the gov- 
ernment was administered for a time by a president. 

In 1687 Sir Edmund Andros acted as governor, by au- 
thority of a royal commission. 

In 1689 the people deposed him, and elected Simon 
Bradstreet president, and afterwards made him governor. 

The governors under the second charter, from 1692 to 
1774, were appointed by the king, and were as follows; 
viz., — 



1687. 


Edmund Andros. 


1702. 


Joseph Dudley. 


1691. 


Simon Bradstreet. 


1715. 


William Taller. 


1692. 


William Phipps. 


1716. 


Samuel Shute. 


1694. 


William Stoughton. 


1722. 


William Dummer. 


1699. 


Earl Bellamont. 


1728. 


William Burnett. 


1700. 


William Stoughton. 


1730. 


Jonathan Belcher. 



512 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



1 741. William Shirley. 

1749. Spenser Phipps. 

1753. William Shirley. 

1756. Spenser Phipps. 



1757. Thomas Pownal. 

1760. Francis Bernard. 

1769. Thomas Hutchinson. 

1774. Thomas Gage. 



In 1780, the present line of State Executives 
menced, and they are as follows : viz., — 



com- 



1780. John Hancock. 

1794. Samuel Adams. 

1797. Increase Sumner. 

iSoo. Caleb Strong. 

1807. James Sullivan. 

1809. Christopher Gore. 

1810. Elbridge Gerry. 
1 81 2. Caleb Strong. 
1816. John Brooks. 
1823. William Eustis. 
1826. Levi Lincoln. 
1834. John Davis. 
1836. Edward Everett. 

1840. Marcus Morton. 

1841. John Davis. 
1843. Marcus Morton. 



1S44. George N. Briggs. 

1851. George S. Boutwell. 

1853. John H. Clifford. 

1S54. Emery Washburn. 

1855. Henry J. Gardner. 

1858. Nathaniel P. Banks. 

1S61. John A. Andrew. 

1866. Alexander H. Bullock. 

1869. William Clatlin. 

1872. William B. Washburn.' 

1875. William Gaston. 

1876. Alexander H. Rice. 

1879. Thomas Talbot. 

1880. John D. Long. 

1883. Benjamin F. Butler. 

1884. George D. Robinson. 



' Chosen United-States senator, May i, 1874 > Lieut.-Gov. Thomas Talbot was 
acting-Governor for the rest of the year. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 513 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

POST-OFFICES. 

By examination of the records of the Post-Office De- 
partment at Washington, it appears that the first office 
established in Medford was in September, 1797. The 
postmasters have been as follows : — 

Samuel Buel Appointed, September, 1797. 

William Rogers, jun " July 21, 1813. 

William Rogers " Oct. 20, 18 18. 

Luther Angier " May 17, 1828. 

Samuel S. Green, jun " April 6, 1839. 

Luther Angier " April 8, 1841. 

Samuel S. Green " July 19, 1845. 

Alexander Gregg " July 30, 1847. 

James T. Floyd, jun " May 30, 1849. 

James C. Winneck " Aug. 23, 1853. 

Alvah N. Cotton " Oct. 21, 1859. 

George Hervey " April 22, i86r. 

George C. Hervey " July 18, 1868. 

John H. Eames " March 17, 1870. 

Frank T. Spinney " March 9, 1886. 

Post Office at West Medford. Established Nov. i, 1832. 

POSTMASTERS. 

James W. Sanford Appointed, Nov. i, 1852, 

Thaddeus A. Baldwin " Aug. 10, 1853. 

Franklin Patch " May 4, 1859. 

William C. Frederick " Sept. 26, 1866. 

E.J. Pitcher , " May 4, 1869. 

Reuben Willey " May 10, 1870. 

James P. Richardson " Oct. 21, 18S1. 

College Hill. Established March 6, 1863. 

John A. Whitney Appointed, March 6, 1863. 

Benjamin T. White " June i, 1871. 

Hannah A. Pearson " Sept. 27, 1S81. 



514 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

East Medford {now Glenwood). Established June S-, iSy2. 

Artimus D. Bickford Appointed, June 5, 1872. 

Jolin P. Oilman " Aug. 30, 1872. 

Andrew P. Perry " Oct. 6, 1873. 

John A. Yeaton " 

Wellington. Established July it, 1883. 
Charles A. Ellsworth Appointed July 11, 1883. 

POPULATION. 

' It is supposed that Medford, during the first ten years 
of its settlement, was quite populous ; but the withdrawal 
of Mr. Cradock's men left it small. Another circumstance 
which operated unfavorably for the settlement of the town 
was the large holdings of land. Mr. Cradock's heirs sold 
lots of a thousand acres to individuals, who kept posses- 
sion of them ; and thus excluded those enterprising and 
laborious farmers who were the best settlers in those days. 
Medford could fill up only so fast as these few rich owners 
consented to sell. This fact explains much of the early 
history of the settlement. While it secured the best kind 
of settlers, when they did come, it prevented that general 
rush which took place in other districts, where land could 
be had for the asking. 

In this Medford was peculiar, and these facts explain 
why the town went so long without public schools and 
churches. 

Surely, in some respects, Medford had a small beginning; 
but Gov. Dudley, speaking on the subject, says, "Small 
things in the beginning of national and political bodies, 
are as remarkable as greater bodies full grown." 

The following records give the town's population from 
1707 to 1885. In 1707 Medford had 46 ratable polls, 
which number multiplied by 5 gives 230 inhabitants. 

In 1736 it had 133 ratable polls, which multiplied as 
above gives 665 inhabitants. 

In 1763 it had 104 houses, 147 families, 161 males and 
150 females under sixteen years of age, 207 males and 223 
females above sixteen, — total, 741 inhabitants. 

In 1776 Medford had 967 inhabitants. 

"1784 " " 981 " 

"1790 " " 1,020 " 

" 1800 " " 1,114 '* 



I 




JONATHAN BROOKS HOMESTEAD, 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 5^5 

In 1810 Medford had 1.443 inhabitants. 

« 1820 " " , . . . . 1,474 

" 1830 " ;; ;'75| 

" 1840 " " 2,478 

" 1850 " " 3,749 

" 1855 " " l'^°3 

" i860 " " 4,8ji 

" 1865 " " 4,839 

" 1870 " " 5,717 

" 1875 " " ^'-^7 

" 1880 " " 7,573 

«« 1885 " " 9)041 



5i6 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



ANNUAL EXPENDITURES OF THE TOWN. 



Year. 


Alms- 
house. 


Outside 
Relief. 


State 
Aid. 


Highways, 
Sidewalks, 
and Trees. 


Bridges. 


Schools. 


Library. 


Fire-De- 
partment. 


Military. 


1850 


1,961 82 


* 


_ 


$1,05821 


$6370 


$4,239 05 


- 


$2,321 38 


_ 


1851 


2,402 48 


* 


- 


1,439 79 


311 27 


10,362 70 


- 


4,679 OS 


- 


1852 


9,182 84 


* 


- 


1,236 31 


92 32 


13.07s 42 


- 


3,161 26 


- 


1853 4,391 42 


* 


- 


1,603 67 


9857 


7,084 46 


- 


2,41335 


- 


1854 3.S7I 86 


* 


- 


2,311 02 


37 71 


7,138 82 


- 


2,046 05 


- 


1855 2.42s 89 


* 


- 


2,105 S9 


97 77 


15,469 03 


- 


1,72631 


- 


1856 


2,160 84 


* 


- 


5,755 95 


13667 


10,564 81 


- 


1,86821 


- 


1857 


2,392 29 


* 


- 


5,563 28 


67 14 


14,088 85 


- 


3.15s 26 


- 


1858 


2,723 24 


* 


- 


3,448 67 


1,921 93 


9,03s 55 


- 


2,680 74 


- 


1859 


3.341 00 


* 


- 


3,285 36 


loi 05 


8,52s 31 


- 


2,921 86 


- 


i860 


6,901 86 


* 


- 


5,355 02 


t 


8,830 65 


- 


4.334 55 


- 


1861 


5,961 28 


* 


$ - 


5,600 09 


t 


8,582 63 


- 


5.775 66 


- 


1862 


2,091 89 


* 


7,606 23 


1,747 62 


1,086 69 


9,401 65 


$35000 


2,466 88 


$35,291 18 


1863 


3.073 77 


* 


12,786 30 


4.581 15 


351 


15,114 40 


410 00 


2,952 01 


18,2339s 


1864 


4.946 74 


* 


10,461 97 


3,036 21 


58434 


12,139 62 


3S0 00 


3.35054 


ao,793 47 


1865 


6,390 75 


$ * 


6.821 45 


3,307 86 


72 26 


13,759 55 


35000 


4.544 12 


206 25 


1866 


1.2497s 


1,607 83 


2,711 00 


6,027 34 


215 80 


41,71552 


497 5° 


2,951 70 


2,03051 


1867 


2,773 66 


1,171 98 


2.745 so 


12,033 06 


96 02 


35,449 12 


599 59 


2,920 34 


2, 'OS 57 


1 863 


2,10893 


806 91 


2,277 50 


9,454 38 


32506 


27,321 64 


400 00 


3,432 05 


1,83950 


1869 


4,9S3 91 


* 


2,698 50 


16,725 50 


65036 


25,114 82 


1,912 83 


3,81797 


4,388 30 


1870 


3.432 4S 


* 


1,980 50 


18,289 80 


71858 


24,582 33 


1 ,400 00 


4,529 18 


1,^7350 


1871 


4,796 17 


* 


1,385 00 


19,555 88 


716 


29,216 02 


2,658 01 


5,551 27 


1.77' 50 


1872 


3,638 78 


2,003 46 


1 ,406 00 


47,42182 


713 75 


32,091 63 


1,91649 


6,744 ^l? 


1,817 70 


1873 


3,044 03 


1,89625 


1,53400 


137,177 II 


192 77 


39,467 66 


1.69934 


14,046 15 


178 00 


1874 


3,780 96 


2,397 59 


1,560 00 


21,695 13 


1,408 47 


30,348 61 


1,45024 


8,456 85 


87203 


187s 


2,805 43 


2,968 00 


1 ,460 00 


20,344 99 


79420 


29,454 II 


7,679 44 


7,596 10 


1,749 26 


1876 


2,997 99 


3,000 26 


1,273 00 


8,419 25 


83563 


31,561 61 


2,232 15 


7,818 76 


39950 


1877 


3,968 88 


S.748 97 


1,248 00 


7,038 94 


1,288 67 


27,348 71 


2,166 88 


6,521 66 


49815 


J878 


2,41743 


5,071 80 


1,052 00 


7,829 09 


1,111 94 


32,971 97 


2,211 61 


7,817 66 


38413 


1879 


2,287 " 


4,045 00 


1,120 00 


5,372 35 


6,384 89 


33,977 16 


2,236 55 


5.559 03 


39505 


1880 


2,456 79 


4,481 28 


1,571 00 


8,871 85 


10,104 38 


33.52095 


2,153 77 


20,277 27 


44980 


1881 


2,469 51 


4,946 12 


1,410 00 


8,724 31 


1,779 39 


30,025 35 


2,112 74 


9.546 70 


49675 


1882 


2,498 03 


4,496 66 


1,230 00 


13,266 62 


3,076 20 


28,054 43 


2,534 II 


6,652 07 


59998 


1883 


2,496 70 


5.030 41 


1,110 00 


11,251 64 


1,179 57 


34.058 73 


2,229 73 


7.499 58 


541 43 


1884! 


2,500 00 


5, 000 00 


1,20000 


10,800 00 


1,200 00 


38,262 00 


1,600 00 


6,400 00 


60000 



* Included in almshouse. 



t Included in highway; 



I Appropriations. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 



51Z 



ANNUAL EXPENDITURES OF THE TOWN. 



Cemete- 
ries. 


Police. 


Street 
Lamps. 


Reduction 
Town 
Debt. 


Other 
Expenses. 


Net Ex- 
penses for 
the year. 


Cash on 

hand, Feb. 

1. 


Town 
Debt ex- 
clusive of 

water. 


Water. 


Water 

Sinking 
Fund. 


- 


$131 48 


$1,94300 


$5,371 10 


$14,013 80 


$623 46 


$12,45000 


- 


_ 


_ 


11532 


3,050 00 


11,338 89 


24,771 39 


91756 


19,200 00 


- 


- 


$5,075 31 


- 


12689 


4,500 00 


6,380 00 


36,196 01 


- 


32,700 00 


- 


- 


2,072 62 


- 


16587 


2,100 00 


9,427 32 


26,909 82 


4.946 93 


36,600 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


19227 


3,00000 


9,198 12 


25,211 42 


7,909 23 


34,100 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


15703 


6,000 00 


13,179 68 


37,028 31 


9,838 63 


38,100 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


17947 


7,100 00 


10,853 15 


33,21052 


16,551 17 


39,000 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


70244 


7,300 00 


12,121 27 


43,191 32 


14,704 08 


36,700 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


32223 


- 


9,198 14 


26,689 39 


12,284 94 


33.93000 


- 


- 


- 


- 


37234 


- 


15,46898 


27,328 97 


12,861 18 


33,S8o 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


381 09 


- 


10,499 45 


31,089 65 


12,184 45 


33,830 00 


- 


- 


- 


- 


35483 


- 


12,390 61 


35,758 03 


11,223 96 


33,700 00 


- 


- 


2875 


- 


2S603 


10,000 00 


19,825 60 


77,500 09 


14,807 69 


73,700 00 


- 


- 


17014 


- 


465 62 


10,000 00 


25,201 72 


48,818 62 


23,360 66 


63,700 00 


- 


- 


62787 


- 


57691 


12,800 00 


25,198 02 


59.56S 27 


30,042 22 


53,700 00 


- 


- 


1,589 46 




54470 


20,000 00 


37,712 77 


37,833 70 


24,054 08 


33,700 00 


- 


- 


5,157 60 


- 


92823 


17,000 00 


33,735 28 


80,651 96 


8,530 40 


41,700 00 


- 


- 


331 30 


- 


94581 


15,000 00 


41,97807 


97.139 53 


20,114 32 


51,200 00 


- 


- 


1,422 51 


- 


1,360 76 


10,000 00 


25,868 33 


71,40969 


22,460 48 


54,500 00 


- 


- 


1,458 66 


$ - 


2,082 06 


15,000 00 


29,185 48 


83,379 82 


10,641 37 


39,500 00 


- 


- 


1,388 62 


1,723 70 


1,802 34 


- 


49.036 44 


105,529 51 


20,748 09 


69,500 00 


- 


- 


i,gio 88 


2,725 17 


1,357 80 


- 


35,13906 


106,991 96 


16,924 35 


70,800 00 




- 


4.407 54 


3.52995 


2.301 49 


- 


34,726 08 


131,99s 16 


3,268 57 


8S,8oo 00 


$6,976 34 


- 


2,41s 14 


4,062 34 


2,783 33 


i8,oco 00 


46.930 56 


258,279 65 


3,040 32 


229,100 00 


10,066 58 


- 


2,348 36 


4.74673 


3,18061 


36,000 00 


60,026 83 


151,072 41 


34,554 9° 


239.500 00 


8,800 00 


- 


26,53631 


4,846 89 


4.273 52 


20,000 00 


51,902 63 


195,610 88 


7,003 19 


219,50000 


I3,2COOO 


- 


3.255 75 


4,189 06 


2,871 00 


8,000 00 


39,875 12 


129,47908 


25,538 57 


211,500 00 


12,750 00 


? - 


2,489 71 


4,19617 


2,711 93 


10,000 00 


57,061 99 


146,688 66 


29,969 31 


201,500 00 


9,400 00 


5, coo 00 


2,026 28 4,181 15 


2,729 81 


10,000 00 


37,447 39 


130,812 26 


32,806 37 


191,700 00 


7,560 00 


6,00000 


2,26079 4,14694 


2,582 83 


10,000 00 


33,244 67 


122,732 37 


27,619 56 


181,70000 


4,12000 


S,ooo 00 


2,302 64 4,183 27 


2,985 68 


10,000 00 


39,575 09 


152,743 77 


8,850 55 


182,125 00 


4,81000 


5,000 00 


2,552 79 ,4,791 70 


3,012 83 


20,000 00 


46,888 94 


143,362 13 


5,822 91 


172,762 50 


7,30000 


5,00000 


3,504 45 4,997 78 


3.3S2 57 


11,000 00 


41,617 65 


139,41056 


96868 


146,372 50 


7,500 00 


5,00000 


3.03879 4,94703 


3,983 06 


25,000 00 


36,057 86 


149,091 01 


6,003 °6 


137,962 50 


10,500 00 


5,000 CO 


1,10000 6,00000 


4,250 00 


10,000 00 


44,336 50 


~ 


~ 


— 


6,300 00 


5,000 00 



5i8 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



VALUATION OF REAL AND PERSONAL ESTATE. 



Year. 


Value of 
Personal Estate. 


Value of 
Real Estate. 


Total Valuation. 


Rate. 


Popula- 
tion. 


1S55 


$1,623,940 00 


$3,532,320 00 


$5,156,260 00 


$5 00 


4,603 


1S56 


- 


- 


- 


625 




1857 


1,532,800 00 


3,603,814 00 


5,136,614 00 


7 00 




1S5S 


1,479,140 CO 


3,432,981 00 


4,912,121 00 


4 70 




1859 


- 


- 


4,941,870 00 


5 30 




i860 


1,454,720 00 


3,343,400 00 


4,798,120 00 


6 20 


4.831 


1861 


1,739,670 00 


3,443,421 00 


5,183,091 00 


7 00 




1862 


2,125,369 00 


3,370,262 00 


5,495,631 00 


7 50 




1863 


2,094.937 00 


3.369.587 00 


5,464,524 00 


12 60 




1S64 


1,668,695 00 


3.452.985 00 


5,121,680 00 


16 00 




1S65 


1.933.485 00 


3,161,521 00 


5,095,006 00 


14 40 


4.839 


1866 


1.7 1 5.449 00 


3,301,998 00 


5,017,447 00 


12 00 




1867 


1,641,197 00 


3,188,950 00 


4,830,147 00 


19 50 




1868 


1,797,028 00 


3,247,995 00 


5,045,023 00 


12 30 




1869 


2,002,080 00 


3,440,590 00 


5,442,670 00 


15 00 




1S70 


2,230,634 00 


3,741,870 00 


5,972,504 00 


13 60 


5,717 


187I 


2,133.889 00 


4,217,510 00 


6,351,399 00 


15 20 




1872 


2,527,827 00 


4,792,265 00 


7,320,092 00 


13 80 




1873 


2,208,189 00 


5,631,605 00 


7,839.794 00 


13 92 




1874 


2,056,015 00 


7,730,025 00 


9,786,040 CO 


15 20 




1875 


1,859,102 00 


8,028,415 00 


9,887,517 00 


17 00 


6,627 


1876 


1,664,718 00 


7,072,735 00 


8,737.453 00 


14 50 




1S77 


i.5(^',93i 00 


6,422,325 00 


7,984,256 00 


14 50 




1S7S 


1,559,865 00 


5,719,660 00 


7,279,525 00 


16 00 




1879 


1,566,772 00 


5.470,435 00 


7,027,207 00 


14 40 




18S0 


1,763,940 00 


5,582,675 00 


7,346,615 00 


15 00 


7.573 


iSSi 


1,914,491 00 


5,673,785 00 


7,588,276 00 


15 60 




1882 


2,097,243 00 


5,750,620 00 


7,847,863 00 


17 60 




1883 


1,708,479 00 


5,882,045 00 


7,590,524 00 


16 So 




ISS4 


2,094,392 00 


6,088,460 00 


8,182,852 00 


19 60 




1885 


1,935,786 00 


6,185,426 00 


8,121,211 00 


14 00 


9,041 



REGISTER OF FAMILIES.' 



" Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he 
will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee." — Deut. xxxii. 7. 

[Note. — Appended to Brooks's History of Medford is a genealogical register of many 
families of the town. The list is far from complete, but contains much valuable information, 
not easily accessible elsewhere. It did not enter into the plan of the revised work to supple- 
ment this record. Such an undertaking, with the greatly increased population of the town, 
would involve an immense amount of labor, and would swell the contents of the volume 
beyond all reasonable limits. It has, however, been deemed advisable to preserve as much 
of the material collected by Mr. Brooks as relates to the families descended from the early 
settlers of the town, even when they have become e.xtinct; and also such other families as still 
have living representatives residing in Medford. 

Nothing more than this has been attempted ; and only in one or two instances have addi- 
tions been made to the original record, with a view to bringing it down to present date.] 

I ALBREE, JOHN, b. in the Island of New Providence in 

1688; came to I3oston in 1700, wli ere he m., in 1711, 
Elizabeth Green, of Boston, a cousin of Gov. Belcher. 
She d. Dec. 6, 1751; and he d. Aug. 28, 1755. Chil- 
dren : — 

I- 2 Joseph, b. , 1 71 2. 

3 Elizabeth, " Jan. 28, 1716; d. Mar. 17, 1735. 

4 Ruth, " Mayi7, 1718; m. Caleb Brooks. 

5 Susanna, " , 1722; " John Pratt. 

John Albree had a sister, Elizabeth, who d. unm. 

I- 2 Joseph Albree m. Judith Reeves, Dec. 23, 1756: she 

was a dau. of Sam. R., and d. Jan. 26, 1778, aged 43. 
He d. Mar. 26, 1777, leaving children: — 
b. Nov. 9, 1757. 

Aug. 15, 1760; m. Susan Dodge; d.s.p. Feb. 

Oct. 20, 1 761. 

May 17, 176S; " Jonathan Brooks; d. Mar. 

' Wherever two numbers are connected by a hyphen, the first is the number of th» parent: 
and the second, of the child. Therefore, in ever)- family, the grandfather, father, and child 
have their numbers in the same paragraph. Thus, in the Albree family: Joseph m. Judith 
Reeves. The 1-2 against his name refers to the previous paragraph, where i is his l.ither s 
number, and 2 his own. In the 2-6, 7, 8, etc , these latter are his children's numbers, m the 
regular succession of descendants of the first lohn Albree. 

The abbreviations used are 6. for born; d. for died; M. for married; uttm. for unmarried; 
d. s. />. for died sine prole (without issue). 

5'9 



2- 6 


John, 1 


7 


Joseph, 




16, 1815. 


8 


Samuel, 


9 


Elizabeth, 




31, 1826. 



520 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

2- 6 John Albree m. Lydia Tufts, Jan. 5, 1793, who d. Apr. 

27, 1S50. He d. Nov. 6, 1842. Children: — 

fist, N. Shepherd, Feb. 

6-10 John, b. Jan. 23, 1 794 ; m.-{^, ,t ' r^-'w t 

■' ' J J' ij-^1 1 2d, Mar. Child, June 

I 14, 1854. 

11 Lydia, " Apr. 24, 1798; d. May 31, 1822. 

12 George, " Feb. i, 1803. 

13 William T., " July 8, 1805. 

14 Elizabeth, " Mar. i, 1810; m. John A. Downie, April 

12, 1838. 

2- 8 Samuel Albree m. Martha Hodge of Amherst, May 16, 

1786, who d. Apr. 2, 1841, aged 72. He d. Feb. 22, 1841. 
He had : — 
8-15 Samuel R., b. Oct. 29, 1787; d. Feb. 26, 1788. 

16 Thomas R., " Apr. 10, 1790; " Oct. 2, 1791. 

17 Joseph, " Oct. 27, 1792; " Apr. 19, 1796. 

18 Elizabeth, " Nov. 14, 1794; m. Peter Hall. 

19 Samuel, " June i, 1799; d. June 23, 1827. 

20 Martha, " Sept. 10, 1801 ; " Apr. 20, 1802. 

6-12 George Albree m., Mar. 27, 1S28, Martha Curing of 

Pittsburg, and had : — 

b. Mar. 14, 1829. 

" Jan. 23, 1831; d. July i, 1835. 

" June 9, 1833; " Dec. 22, 1S36. 

" Sept. 15, 1835. 

" Feb. 21, 1838. 

" Oct. 15, 1840. 

Family of Albree. 

We can trace this Medford family to Nassau, in the Island of New Providence, the capital 
of the Bahamas. In 1672 the English government sent Mr. CoUingworth to superintend the 
settlement of that island and its chief city by Englishmen. The attempt succeeded but imper- 
fectly; because the coasts were infested with pirates, and the Spanish were moved by jealousy 
to check English power. Mr. CoUingworth, after a few years, resigned his office in despair; 
and the government appointed Mr. Clark governor of the island, and gave him means for sus- 
taining himself. The early English settlers were selected for their energy and enterprise, and 
they fixed on Nassau as their central port. The place grew and flourished, but its Spanish 
enemies were numerous and bloodthirsty. They made a sudden and warlike descent upon it, 
and captured the brave Clark; and, in order to show their future intentions, they " roasted the 
English governor alive." In one of these barbaric assaults, in 1699, the unoffending inhabit- 
ants were put to the sword; and two little children were that day made orphans. One was a 
boy, named John Albree, who was born in 1688; and the other was his sister, Elizabeth, who 
was three years younger. The brother fled with his sister to seek protection in a Boston 
vessel, which was there for cargo. The captain knew that the tragic story of the children was 
true; and, with the characteristic warmth of a sailor's heart, he took the weeping orphans to 
his arms, and offered to bring them to Boston and provide for them. They accepted, but 
wished to get something from their father's house. The captain went to the house; but could 
find nothing worth takmg away, save an old Ejigh'sli one-day clock, which the plunderers had 
spared. That he took; and that clock is now in possession of Miss Lucy Ann Brooks, in 
Medford, and will keep time well, although two hundred years old. 

Early in the year 1700 John Albree and Elizabeth Albree arrived in Boston, and were 
tenderly cared for by the family of the captain who brought them. They were put to school 
and taught to labor; and, when John was fourteen years old, he was indented as an apprentice, 
for seven years, to a weaver in Maiden. His master found him a silent and thoughtful boy, 
and made him .a good weaver. His sister, at her own request, became an inmate of his 
master's family. These children annually received, from an vmknown hand in New Provi- 
dence, generous gifts of raw cotton and fruits. This cotton had seeds in it; and a gin was sent 
with which to clear out the seeds. After they became of age, these benefactions ceased. 
Their father was probably a cotton-planter; hence the son's preference for the trade of cotton- 
weaver. When he became of age, he moved to Medford, and soon afterwards purchased a 



2-21 


John, 


22 


George C, 


23 


William A., 


24 


Joseph, 


25 


Robert C, 


26 


Elizabeth P., 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



521 



small house, which stood on the spot now occupied by the house of Mr. Thatcher Magoun, 
jun. His sister became his housekeeper. In Alay, 1711, he married a near relative of Gov- 
ernor Belcher, — Miss Elizabeth Greene, of Boston. When his first child was born, he wished 
to have it baptized, and named Joseph in honor of its grandfather: but not knowing whether 
he himself had been baptized, either in England or New Providence, he resolved to ask bap- 
tism for himself; and on Sunday, Sept. 6, 1713, he received the rite, and then offered his son. 
After a few years, he sold his house and garden, and bought a farm of twenty-two acres; which, 
by three subsequent purchases, was enlarged to one hundred acres. It was much of the farm 
now occupied by Mr. Peter C. Hall. There was a gristmill upon it, on the west side of Pur- 
chase Street. He enlarged the mill by an addition of a weaver's shop. Here he worked, and 
grew comparatively rich. His grandson told us, that, in 1785, the stream that fed the mill 
foiled; and that he then " removed the mill and shop, and filled up the flume." The house of 
John, the first settler, was about ten rods north-east of his mill. He was a retired man, with 
many thoughts and few words : he was a great questioner, and remarkable for his high sense 
of honor. With the English slowness to adopt, he united the English tenacity in holding fast 
what he had chosen. He was an active friend of the poor, especially of orphans. He tenderly 
cherished his sister in his family while she lived. She died unmarried. He had four children, 
— Joseph, Elizabeth, Ruth, and .Susanna. Joseph was the father of Mrs. Jonathan Brooks; 
Ruth was the mother of Governor Brooks; and Susanna, the mother of Captain John Pratt. 
The grandsons were called John, in honor of their grandfather, John Albree. Of the first 
settler's descendants, the only ones who remained in Medford were Mrs. Jonathan Brooks and 
Governor Brooks; and, through life, they were drawn towards each other by the tenderest 
ties. 

Collateral Brattches of the Albree Family. 

N. B. The records of those who married among the Brookses will be found in that family 
record. 



I- 5 



Susanna, m. Mr. Goldthwait, who d. six months after, 
without children. She m., 2d, John Pratt of Chelsea, 
Dec. 6, 1753, and had: — 

Thomas, b. , m. Anne Cheever; had son Thomas. 



John,' 
Elizabeth, 
Susanna, 
Joanna, 



" Mary Tewksbury. 

" John Green, of Chelsea. 
" Green, " " 



8-18 Elizabeth Albree m. Peter Hall, Jan. 2, 1817. She d. 
Jan. 8, 1853. Her children were : — 
Martha, b. June 4, 1S18; m. Alonzo Rust, Mar. 31, 

1836. 
Charles B., " Oct. 15,1820; " Roxalina Branch, Feb. 

TO, 1846. 
Samuel A., " May 29, 1823. 
Elizabeth, " Nov. 24, 1825. 
Mary Jane, " Aug. i, 1828. 
Judith, " Feb. 2, 1831. 

Lucy Ann, " June 22, 1833. 
George W., " Apr. 2, 1838. 



ANGIER, SAMUEL, m. Abigail Watson, Apr. 29, 1762 
John Angier m. Abby S. Adams. 
Luther Angier " Lydia Farley. 



r BLSHOP, THOMAS, of Ipswich, merchant, rep. 1666; 

d. Feb. 7, 1671, leaving widow, Margaret. Children: — 
I- 2 Samuel. 
3 John. 

I Susan, by first marriage. Children of John and Mary (Tewksbury) Pratt are John, 
Mary, George, Eliza, Sarah Tewksbury, Caroline, Eleanor, James, Charlotte Albree, and Wil- 
liam Touro. 



522 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

4 Thomas. 

5 Job. 

6 Nathaniel. 

I- 2 Samuel Bishop m. Hester ; d. March, i68i ; and 

had, i)iter alios : — 
2- 7 Dr. John Bishop, moved from Bradford to Medford, Sept. 
20, 1685, and died 1739. ^^ "^- -'^arah , and had: — 

7- 8 John Bishop, b. 1722, who m. Abigail, dau. of Dr. Simon 

Tufts, Dec. 7, 1752. He d. 1791, leaving: — 
8- 9 Abigail, b. Oct. 5, 1753; m. Dr. James Putnam of Dan- 
vers, Nov. 12, 1786. 
10 John, b. Nov. 20, 1755. 

8-10 John Bishop m. Lydia Holmes, dau. of Nathaniel and 

Rebecca (Goodwili) Holmes, who d. Mar. 28, 1807, aged 
48. Children : — 

lo-ii Lvdia, b. , 1784; m. N. Parsons; and d. Oct. 4, 

'1805. 

12 Rebecca, b. Oct. 2, 1785; d. Oct. 26, 1807. 

13 John, " Aug. 7, 1787; " Sept. 7, 1830. 

14 Nathaniel, " 1790. 

15 Elizabeth, " Jan. i, 1791. 

16 William, " Mar., 1794; " Nov. 27, 181 2. 

10-14 Nathaniel Bishop m. Mary S. Farrar; and died Feb. 22, 
1850. He had : — 

14-17 John. 

18 Lydia H., m. Samuel H. Jones of Philadelphia. 

19 Mary R. 

20 Nathaniel, b. 1835; d. 1836. 

21 Nathaniel. 

22 Henrietta B. 

23 Heber. 

24 Marie Josephine. 

14-17 John Bishop m. Elinor, dau. of Samuel Sweetser of Brook- 

lyn, N. Y., who d. Aug. 26, 1S52, aged 26. Children : — 
17-25 Edward Francis, b. 1851 ; d. 185 1. 
26 Elinor S. 

Sarah Bishop m. Benjamin Leathe, Apr. 26, 1738. 



1 BLANCH ARD, GEORGE, m. Sarah ; and d. March 

18, 1700, aged 84. He had: — 
Sarah, b. Apr. 23, 1690. 
Mercy, " June 11, 1693. 

2 Joseph Blanchard m. Elizabeth , and had : — 

Kezia, b. July 3, 1704. 

Joanna, " May 25, 171 1. 

Concerning the above, I can only .-»dd the following extracts of wills on file at East Cam- 
bridge : Thomas Blanchard of Charlestown, will dated 16,3 mo., 1654, mentions wife Mary, 
sons Nathaniel. Samuel, and George, and his son Joseph. 

John Blanchard of Dunstable, March 13, 1693, mentions wife Hannah, sons Benjamin, 
Joseph, James, Thomas, and Nathaniel; and daughters Hannah Reed, Hannah Parish, Sarah, 
and Mary. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 523 

3 Aaron Blanchard m. Sarah , and had : — 

3- 4 Sarah, b. July 30, 1717. 

5 Sarah, " Dec. 14, 1719; m. James Kettell, Apr. 10, 1740. 

6 Aaron, " May 21, 1722. 

7 Mary, " Feb. 22, 1724. 

8 Moses, " Jan. 5, 1726. 

9 Francis, " Sept. 14, 1727. 
10 John, " Dec. 4, 1728. 

He died September, 1769. 

3- 6 Aaron Blanchard, jun., m. Rebecca Hall, Nov. 13, 1745, 

and had : — 
6-1 1 Aaron, b. Mar. 15, 1746; d. March 21, 1746. 
12 Rebecca, " Nov. 11, 1749. 

His wife dying Nov. 13, 1749, he m. 2d, Tabitha , 

and had : — 
6-13 Aaron, b. Sept. 2, 1751. 

14 Tabitha, " May 21, 1753. 

15 Andrew, " July 21, 1754. 

16 Rebecca, " Nov. 5, 1755- 

17 Sarah, " Mar. 25, 1757. 

18 Joanna, " Feb. 26, 1759. 

19 John, " Apr. 21, 1761. 

20 Stephen, " July i, 1763- 

21 David, " Sept. 21, 1765. 

22 Benjamin, " Sept. 8, 1770. 

Shed. July 31, I775- 

6-15 Andrew Blanchard m. Mary Waters, Sept. 14, 1786, 
and had : — 

15-23 Andrew, b. Sept. 2, 1787. 

24 Mary, " Oct. 27, 1789- 

25 Sarah H., " Apr. 26, 1792. 

26 Abraham W., " Nov. 10, 1 794- 

27 James, " Apr. 13, I797- 

28 Martha, " Dec. 4> I799- 

29 Emily, " Apr. 5, 1S02. 

30 Roxana, "Aug. 14,1808. 

6-19 John Blanchard m. Rebecca Tufts, Sept. 30, 1784, who 
d. Nov. 22, 1 82 1, aged 62; and had : — 

19-31 Rebecca, b. Aug. 29, 1784- 

32 Ansters D., " May 24,1786. 

33 John, " May 21, 1788. 

34 Aaron, " Feb. 7, I790- 

35 Sarah, " Jan. 1792- 

36 John, " Apr. 3, 1794- 

37 Gilbert, " Dec. 21, 1795. 

6-20 Stephen Blanchard m. Elizabeth , and had : — 

20-38 Elizabeth, b. Jan. 14,1789- 

39 Gair, " Apr. 15, 1790- 

40 Hezekiah Blanchard m. Susanna , and had : — 

40-41 Susanna, b. Sept. 15, I755; d. July 16, 1790- 

42 Hannah, "Feb. i, 17575 " Aug. 17, 1797- 



524 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

43 Hezekiah, b. Sept. 3, 175S. 

44 Winifred, " May 8, 1760; " Jan. 15, 1790. 

45 Mary, " Sept. 8, 1761. 

46 Elizabeth, " Nov. 13, 1762. 

His wife dying Jan. i, 1763, aged 31, he m., 2d, Sarah 
, and had : — 

47 Andrew, b. July 27, 1764; d. Sept. 19, 1766. 

His wife d. Nov. 28, 1792. He d. Aug. 24, 1803, aged "j^. 

48 Caleb Blanchard m. Lucy Hall, Mar. 2, 1 7S8, and had : — 

48-48^ Lucy, b. July 28, 1788. 

49 Caleb, " Apr. 10, 1790. 

50 David, " Oct. 28, 1792. 

51 Sarah, " June 25, 1795. 

52 Mary, " Aug. 16, 1797. 

53 Hannah, " July 19, 1799. 

54 Ebenezer Blanchard m. Mary Leathe, Dec. i, 1766, and 

had: — 
54-55 William, b. Apr. 4, 1767. 
56 Ebenezer, " Feb. 22, 1769. 

57 Samuel Blanchard, jun., of Maiden, m. Sarah Cutter, 

Apr. 12, 1745, and had : — 
57-58 Ebenezer, b. Jan. 2, 1766. 

Andrew Blanchard, d. , 181 5. 

Ebenezer " " Jan. 21, 1772, aged 32. 

Ebenezer 

Samuel 

Eunice 

Hannah 

Hezekiah 

Joseph 

Rebecca 

Aaron Blanchard, jun., of Maiden, m. Sarah Cutter, 

Apr. 12, 1745. 
Sarah Blanchard m. Joseph Souther, Dec. 22, 1746. 
Hannah " " Jedidiah Leathe, Ch., Jan. 16, 1754. 



" Dec. 27, 
" Sept. 14, 
" Sept. 18, 


1771, " 
1800, " 
1800, " 


3- 

I, c. 
I, c. 


" Feb. 18, 

" Oct. 24, 
" Dec. 28, 


1803, " 
1803. 
1694, " 
1S39, " 


9 mos, 

43- 
55- 



I BRADSHAW, JOHN, son of Humphrey and Patience B., 
Cambridge, b. June 24, 1655, was one of the earliest re- 
corded tax-payers. He m. Mary ; and d. Mar. 19, 

1745, aged 89. His wife died April 18, 1758, aged 90, 
leaving : — 

I- 2 Mary, b. May 8, 1687; d. aged 25. 

3 Sarah, " Sept. S, 1690; " Nov. 27, i6qo. 

4 Ruth, " Nov. 29, 1692; m. Benjamin Willis, Feb. 10, 

1714. 

5 John, " Feb. n, 1694. 

6 Jonathan, " Dec. 18, 1696. 

7 Sarah, " Mar. 19, 1699. 

8 Samuel, " Aug. 29, 1700. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



525 



10 
II 



Susanna, b. Dec. 23, 1702; m. B. Scolly of Boston, Feb. 

17, I73I- 

Abigail, " Apr. 29, 1 704 ; " Jona. Watson, Jan. 16, 1729. 

Hannah, " Jan. 31, 1706. 

12 Stephen, " Sept. 16, 1707. 

13 Simon, " Oct. 3, 1709. 

I- 5 John Bradshaw m. Mercy Tufts, Mar. 14, 1718, and 
had : — 

5-14 John, b. Feb. 13, 1719. 

15 Mercy, " Dec. 27, 1721; m. Jos. Newell, Feb. 21, 1740. 

16 Elizabeth, " Oct. 19, 1722. 

17 Nathan, " Jan. 4, 1724. 

18 Cotton, " Dec. 15, 1725; d. Aug. 13, 1765. 

19 Ruth, " Dec. 22, 1727. 

20 Anna, " Apr. 4, 1730. 

21 Sarah, " May i, 1734. 

22 Joshua, " July 6, 1736. 

23 Peter, " May 6, 1738. 

24 Rebecca, " Feb. 6, 1744. 

I- 6 Jonathan Bradshaw m. Mary Watson, Apr. 17, 1722. 
He was a deacon of the church in 1723. He had: — 

6-25 Jonathan, b. Feb. 13, 1723. 

26 "Abraham, " Oct. 14, 1724. 

27 Mary, " May 15, 1729. 

28 Anna, " Apr. 4, 1730. 

29 William, " Aug. 14, 1733. 

30 Jonathan, " Apr. 10, 1735. 

31 Rebecca, " Jan. 17, 1737. 

32 Susanna, " May 24, 1742. 

33 Elizabeth, " Jan. 20, 1745. 

I- 8 Samuel Bradshaw m. Sarah , and had: — 

8-34 Samuel, b. July 18, 1737. 

35 William, " Apr. 20, 1739. 

36 Sarah, " Aug. 31, 1740. 

37 Hannah, " Mar. 10, 1742. 



12 


Stephen Bradshaw rr 


). IVfary • 


t 


and had : — 


12-38 


Mary, b. Feb. 


24, 


1739- 






30 


Susanna, " July 


12, 


1741. 






40 


Thomas, " July 


8, 


1743- 






41 


Abigail, " Mar. 


25- 


1746. 






42 


John, " July 


16, 


1748; d, 


. July 


16, 1748. 


43 


Sarah, " Jan. 


27, 


1750; " 


May 


10, 1750. 


44 


John, " Jan. 


30, 


1751. 






45 


Andrew, " Feb. 


26, 


1753- 






46 


Henry, " Sept. 


13. 


1754- 






47 


Ruth, " Feb. 


5, 


1757- 






48 


Zechariah, " Sept. 


27, 


1759; " 


Oct. 


16, 1759. 


49 


Uriah, " July 


16, 


1760; " 


Sept. 


10, 1760. 



Stephen Bradshaw d. Dec. 21, 1767. 

Mary, his widow, " Jan. 12, 1776, aged 58. 



526 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

1-13 Simon Bradshaw m. Mary , and had : — 

13-50 Simon, b. Mar. i, 1739. 

51 Isaac, " Sept. 26, 1740; d. Dec, 1741. 

52 Isaac, " Dec. 10, 1743; " Feb. 14, 1746. 

53 Eleazer, " Feb. 11, 1746. 

54 Mary " Sept. 24, 1747. 

55 Catharine, " July 11, 1749; " Sept. 15, 1749. 

Mary, widow of Simon, " July 26, 1764. 

Thomas Bradshaw (perhaps No. 40) m. Mary Tufts, Nov. 
26, 1772, and had : — 

56 Thomas, b. Apr. 17, 1773. 

N.B. — He perhaps m., 2d, Martha , who d. July 6, 

180S, and had as below. He d. Sept. i, iSoi. 

57 Martha, b. , 1775; d. Aug. 11, 177S, 

58 Susanna, " Aug. 3, 1778. 

59 John, " June 3, 1786. 

Rebeeca Bradshaw m. Wm. Hall, jun., Feb. 7, 1753. 

Mercy " *' Joseph Ellis, Dedham, May 13, 1756. 

Mary " " Nathaniel Hall, Apr. 2, 1 761. 

Sarah " " Joseph Thompson, Dec. 30, 1718. 

Hannah " " Enoch Greenleaf, P"eb. 17, 1726. 

Abigail " " Jonathan Watson, Jan. 16, 1729. 

Elizabeth " " John Muzzy, July 12, 1709. 

William " " Elizabeth Lampson, June 5, 1761. 

Susanna *' " Jonathan Patten, Apr. 14, 1762. 

Stephen " " M. Mansfield, Alsbury, Nov. 22, '63. 

Susanna " " Timothy Newhall, Nov. i, 1764. 

Elizabeth " " And. Floyd, Roxbury, Oct. 31, 1765. 

Simon " " Hannah Johnson, July 12, 1770. 

Tliomas " " Martha Tufts, Nov. 26, 1772. 

Patience " " N. Ordway, Chelmsford, Nov. 22,'33. 

Sarah " d. Oct. 22, 1775. 



BROOKS, THOMAS, the first of the name in New Eng- 
land, came, it is supposed, from Suffolk, Eng., and settled 
in Watertown, where he had a lot assigned him, on the 
main road, in 1631. He was made a freeman in 1636; 
and two years afterwards, his name, which had dis- 
appeared from the Watertown records, is to be seen on 
those of Concord, where he was constable in 1638. He 
settled in this latter town, and owned large estates there ; 
in consequence, he was appointed to the various town- 
offices. In 1660 he, with his son-in-law, Timothy 
Wheeler, bought four hundred acres of land in Medford, 
for four hundred and four pounds sterling, Avhich he 
owned at the time of his death. His farm in Medford 
was bought of Edward Collins, and thus, probably, a 
part of the great Cradock estate. He sold his farm in 
Concord, Oct. 22,1664; and he d. there. May 21, 1667. 

His wife was Grace , who d. May 12, 1664. His 

children were : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 527 

I- 2 Joshua, b. , freeman, 1652; m. Hannah Mason of; 

Watertown. 

3 Caleb, b. 1632 ; " 1654. 

4 Gershom, " 1672; " Hannah Eckles. 

5 Mary, m. Timothy Wheeler of Concord. 

(According to Mr. Shattuck, probably others.) 

I- 3 Caleb Brooks lived at Concord until 1679. He m. suc- 

cessively, the two daus. of Thomas Atkinson : viz., Su- 
sannah, Apr. 10, 1660 ; 2d, Hannah. He removed to 
Medford, where he inherited some land lying east from 
the Wear Bridge. His house was situated al)out mid- 
way between the bridge and the Lowell Railroad, imme- 
diately in front of the Woburn Road. It was torn down 
in '1779, oy his great-grandson, Samuel. He d. July 29, 
1696, aged 64; and his second wife, Hannah, d. Mar. 
ID, 1702, aged about 70. His children were, by his first- 
wife : — 
3- 6 Susannah, b. Dec. 27, 1661 ; d. unm., Dec. 23, 1686. 

7 Mary, " Nov. 18, 1663; " young. 

8 Mary, m. Nathaniel Ball. 

9 Rebecca, d. unm. 

10 Sarah, m. Philemon Russell, Oct. 18, 1705. 
And, by his second wife : — 
Ebenezer, b. Feb. 24, 1670. 
Samuel, " Sept. i, 1672. 

3-1 1 ^. Ebenezer Brooks m. Abigail, dau. of Dr. Thomas Boyl- 
ston, of Brookline. They joined the church, 1712. He 
d. Feb. II, 1743; his wife d. May 26, 1756, aged 82. 
Their children were : — 
11-13 Caleb, b. July 8,1694. 

14 Ebenezer, " May 23, 169S. 

15 Thomas, " Apr. 18, 1705; d. unm. Nov. 14, 17S4. 

16 Samuel, '' Feb. 8, 1710. 

17 Abigail, " Oct. 6, 1699; m. Thomas Oakes. 

18 Hannah, " Apr. 15, 1701 ; " Nathaniel Cheever. 

19 J\Iary, " Jan. 19, 1704; d. Sept. 3, 1704. 

20 Rebecca, " July 24, 1706; m. Samuel Pratt, Dec. 2, 1725.. 

3-12 Samuel Brooks m. Sarah Boylston (sister of his broth- 

er's wife), and lived in Medford, nearly opposite the site 
of the house since built by his descendant Peter C. 
Brooks (52), and now (1886) occupied by his grandson, 
Francis Brooks (loi). He died July 3, 1733. His wife 
d. Oct. 16, 1736, aged 56. Their children were: — 
12-21 Samuel, b. Sept. 3, 1700. 

22 Sarah, " Apr. 17,1702; m. Rev. Shearjashub Bowen of 
Scituate, Feb. 12, 1736. 

11-13 Caleb Brooks m., 2d, Ruth Albree, Mar. i, i75o> l^X 

whom he had : — 
13-23 Theodore, b. Jan. 2, 1751. 

24 John, bap. May 31, 1752; afterwards Governor of this 
State. 



528 H /STORY OF MED FORD. 

25 Josepli, d. young. 

26 Elizabeth, bap. June 26, 1757; m. Rev. Jacob Burnap, 

1776. 

27 Hannah, " Feb. t2, 1760; " Francis Ikirns, 1794. 

Capt. Caleb Brooks, so c.illecl, m. ist, Mary Wyer, and bail by her two 
sons and five daughters. His homestead, called the ISosquet House, the 
birthplace of Gov. John Brooks (in that partbf Winchester formerly a part 
of Medford). was removed by Marshall Synmies in 1882. He d. Nov. 21, 
1766. 

12-21 Samuel Brooks m. Mary Boutwell of Reading, who 

brought with her a large landed property in that town. 
His house, built in 1727, which stood about tliirty rods 
north of his father's, was taken down in i860 by his great- 
great-grandson, Peter C. Brooks, the third of that name 
(110). The brick wall, many times repaired, in front of 
this house, is still (18S6) standing. It was built by Pomp 
(the negro of Thomas Brooks, No. 30, the son of Sam- 
uel) about 1765, from bricks of his own make. The will 
of Samuel proves him to have been one of the few slave- 
holders in the town. He d. July 5, 1768. His wife d. 
May 25, 1772, aged 74. Their children were : — 
21-28 Mary,' bap. Jan. i, 172S; m. William Whitmore. 

29 Samuel, b. Aug. 24, 1729; d. Mar., 1807; graduated at 

Harvard College, 1749. Lived and died in Exeter, N.H. 
Was twice married, and had four sons and two daugh- 
ters. 

30 Thomas, b. Jan. 6, 1732. 

31 Edward, " Nov. 4,1743. 

32 Jonathan, " Aug. 17, 1735 ; d. in college, 1750. 

13-24 John Brooks (Governor of Massachusetts) m. Lucy Smith 

of Reading, in 1774, who d. Sept. 26, 1791, aged 38. 
He died Alarch i, 1825. Their children were : — 
24-33 Lucy, b. June 16, 1775; m. Rev. O'Kill Stuart. 

34 Alexander S., b. Oct. 19, 1781; killed by explosion of a 

steamboat, 1836. 

35 John, b. May 20, r783; fell at the battle of Lake Erie, 

Sept. 10, 1S13. 

21-30 Thomas Brooks m., 1st, Anna Hall, Feb. 27, 1755, who 

d. Aug. 28, 1757; 2d, Mercy Tufts, Dec. 29, 1762. He 
d. Mar. 7, 1799. His second wife d. Aug. 26, 1813, 
aged 71. His children were, by first wife : — 
30-36 Nancy, b. Apr. 6, 1757; m. Dr. Stevens. 
By his second : — 

37 Mercy, b. Sept. 3, 1763 ; m. Cotton Tufts of Weymouth. 

38 Jonathan, b. Oct. 15, 1765; d. Mar. 18, 1847. 

39 Samuel, " young. 

40 Samuel, " Oct. 23, 1768; lost at sea. 

41 Isaac, d. young. 

42 William, " " 

43 Simon, " Sept. 2, 1772; " 1805. 

44 Lucy, " young. 

45 Abigail, "' '^ 

46 Isaac, " June 3, 1776; " Oct. 2, 1819. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 529, 

47 William S.,b. Mar. 5, 1 781 ; lived at Erattleboro', Vt. 

48 Thomas, " Jan. 30, 1783 ; d. at sea, Jan. 6, 1810. 

49 Edward, " June 18, 1786; " at New Orleans, 18:7. 

50 James, " Feb. 7, 1788; " at Havana, 1809. 

21-31 Edward Brooks m. Abigail, dau. of Rev. John Brown, 

of Haverhill. He grad. H.C., 1757, where he was libra- 
rian for a short time. He was chaplain on board the 
frigate "Hancock " in 1777; but returning to Medford, 
died there, May 6, 17S1. His wife died Nov. 29, 1800, 
aged 69. She was, through her mother, a lineal descend- 
ant of the famous Puritan divine, John Cotton. Their 
children were : — 
31-51 Cotton Brown, b. July 20, 1765; d. May 12, 1834. 

52 Peter Chardon, " Jan. 6. 1767; " Jan. i, 1849. 

53 Marv, " Jan. 27, 1769; m. Samuel Gray, of Salem. 

54 Joanna C, " May 18, 1772; " Nath'l Hall, Nov. 26, 

1793- 

30-38 Jonathan Brooks m. Elizabeth Albree, Sept. 26, 1791; 

d. Mar. 18, 1847. His wife d. Mar. 31, 1826, aged 58. 
Their children were: — 
3S-55 Samuel Reeves, b. Feb. i, 1793; m. Frances Olney, 1842; 
d. June 18, 1870. 
56 Charles, b. Oct. 30, 1795; d. July 7, 1872. 
n Elizabeth, " Dec. 9, 1797; " Nov. 28, 1855. 

58 Alfred, " July 19, 1801 ; " Feb. 22, 1875; r"- Lydia 

Warren, 1S33. 

59 Lucy Ann, b. Oct. 25, iSio. 

31-52 Peter Chardon Brooks m. 1792, Ann, dau. Nath'l Gor- 
ham, who d. Feb. 21, 1830, and had: — 

52-60 Edward, b. Dec. 22, 1793; d. Apr. i, 1878. 

61 Gorham, " Feb. 10, 1795; " Sept. 10, 1855. 

62 Peter Chardon, " July 4, 1796; " young. 

63 Ann Gorham, " June 19, 1797; m. N. L. Frothingham. 

64 Peter Chardon, " Aug. 26, 1798; d. June 3, 1S80; m. Su- 

san Oliver; no children. 

65 Sidney, b. Oct. 7, 1799; d. Mar., 1S78; m. Frances Dehon;. 

no children. 

66 Charlotte Gray, b. Nov. 4, 1800; m. Edward Everett. 
6^ Ward Chipman, " Apr. 21, 1804; d. Mar. 19, 1828, unm. 

68 Abigail Brown, " Jan. 22, 1806; " young. 

69 Henrv, " Feb. 2, 1807; " Sept." 2, 1833, unm. 

70 Abigail Brown, " Apr. 25, 1808 ; m. Chas. Francis Adams. 

71 Horatio, " Sept. 20, 1809; d. May 24, 1843, unm. 

72 Octavius, " Oct. 27, 1813; " young. 

30-46 Isaac Brooks m. Mary Austin, and had: — 

46-73 Margaret, m. Wm. Brigham, June 11, 1840. 
74 Isaac Austin, b. Apr. 13, 1824. 

30-47 William S. Brooks m. Eleanor Forman, and had : — 

47-75 Ellen Malvina. 
William. 
76 Horace, m. Mary Emerson, and has three children. 



530 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

77 George. 

78 Mary E., m. Frank Goodhue. 

79 Francis. 

80 Lucy Tarbell, m. Cabot. 

38-56 Charles Brooks m. Cecilia Williams, June 27, 1827, who 

d. "Mar. 13, 1837, aged 35. He m., 2d, Charlotte Ann 
Haven Lord, Aug. l, 1839. ^^s by first wife : — 
-56-81 Elizabeth Albree, b. Apr. 25, 1828; d. Mar. 5, 1869. 
Charles John, d. June 8, 1833, aged i year. 
82 Charles Wolcott, b. Oct. i, 1833; d. Aug. 16, 1885. 

46-74 Isaac Austin Brooks m. Sarah W. Hill, Apr. 25, 1846, 

and had : — 
74-83 Frederic Cornwell, b. Feb. 16, 1847; d. New Orleans, Jan. 
6, 1881. 

84 Alfred Austin, b. Sept. i, 1848; m. Ellen Newton of 

Northboro', Oct. i, 1884; had Alfred Austin, b. at Cam- 
bridge, May 4, 1886. 

85 Mary Isabel, b. Apr. 21, 1852; d. at Cambridge, March 4, 

1883. 

86 Edward Corliss, b. Jan. 22, 1854. 

87 Herbert Hinckley, " June 19, 1856. 



13-26 


Elizabeth Brooks m 


. Rev. 


Jacob Burnap, of Merrimac, 




1776, and had: — 










26-87^ 


Horatio G., b. Jan. 4, 


1778. 








88 


Elizabeth, " 


1779; 


d. 1840. 






89 


Ruth, 


1780; 


" Nov. 


27, 


1806. 


90 


Hannah, " 


1781. 








91 


Rebecca, " May 14, 


1784. 








92 


Abigail, " 


1785; 


" Aug. 


26, 


1808. 


93 


John, 


1788; 


(( 




1827. 


94 


Jacob, " Feb. 17, 


1790. 








95 


Susan, " Nov. 14, 


1791. 








96 


Caleb B., " Feb. 17, 


1794. 








97 


P>ancis, " Jan. 24, 


1796. 








98 


Lucy, " Oct. 2, 


1797; 


(• 




1842. 


99 


George W., " Nov. 30, 


1802. 









52-60 Edward Brooks was born Dec. 22, 1793, and died April 

1 1, 1878. He married Elizabeth Boott, May 3, 1821. She 
was born July 20, 1799, and died June 21, 1865. 

The following sketch of the life of Mr. Brooks formed a portion of 
an address delivered by Hon. Robert C. Winthrop before the General 
Theological Library Association, April 16, 1878. 

"Edward Brooks, A.M., of Medford, Mass., was the eldest son of 
Peter C. Brooks, well remembered as one of Boston's wealthiest and 
most eminent men of business, and of whom may be found in the 
Register (vol. viii. pp. 297-309; vol. ix. pp. 13-33) 'in admirable 
memoir by the Hon. Edward Everett, who married his daughter. 
His grandfather, the Rev. Edward Brooks, of ]\Iedford, was a gradu- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



531 



ate of Harvard University, class of 1757. Edward Brooks was also 
a graduate of Harvard, class of 1812; studied law with his uncle, the 
Hon. Benjamin Gorham, an dmade the 'grand tour' in Europe in 
the company of Mr. Ticknor and the Hon. John C. Gray. 

" Mr. Brooks was one of the representatives of Boston in the leo-js- 
lature of Massachusetts for the years 1834, '36, '37, and '42. He 
was a man of vigorous intellect, of great reading, and of many varied 
accomplishments. He vi'as very active in the temperance movement, 
and was one of the first to interest himself in the Blind Asvlum in 
connection with Dr. Howe. For nine years, and until the year pre- 
ceding his death, — when the infirmities of age led him to resign, — he 
held the office of president of the General Theological Library, in 
which he took a warm interest, and to which he contributed time 
and money. He was also, until within about ten years of his death, 
a contributor to 'The North American Review.' In consequence of 
the ill health of his wife, he spent many years in foreign lands. The 
Boston Public Library is indebted to him for an admirable original 
portrait of Franklin, presented on his return from Europe." 

He had: — 
60-100 Edward M. D., b. Feb. 14, 1822; d. June 22, 1865. 

loi Francis Boott, " Nov. i, 1824; he changed his name to 

plain Francis in 1854. 
102 Anne Gorham, b. Jan. 22, 1830; d. Oct. 27, 1848. 
Francis m. Mary Jones Chadwick, May 6, i85o,^who d. March 14, 
1851 ; m. Louise Winsor, Nov. 29, 1854; she was b. Feb. 8, 1835. 

Mr. Francis Brooks represented the town of Medford in the General 
Court of 1862, and was sent, with Mr. Edmund L)wight, to distribute 
the Boston French relief fund amongst the peasantry in the neighbor- 
hood of Paris, after the Franco-Prussian war of 1S71. He had: — 

101-103 Fanny, b. in Paris, France, Aug. 22, 1855. 

104 Edward, " " " Oct. 19, 1856 ; m. ALary C. 

Hammond, Oct. 21, 1885. 

105 Henry, b. in Medford, Oct. 16, 1857. 

106 Frederic, " " Nov. 20, 185S. 

107 Elizabeth Boott, " " June 29, 1S60. 

108 Louise Winsor, " in Jefferson, N.H., Sept. 9, 1874. 

52-61 — Gorham Brooks m., Apr. 20, 1829, Ellen, dau. of R. D. 
Shepherd, of Virginia, b. Aug. 22, 1809; d. Aug. 11, 
1884. They had: — 

109 Lucy, b. Feb. 8, 1830; d. Sept. 10, 1830. 
no Peter Chardon, " May 8, 1831. 

111 Shepherd, " July 23, 1837. 

61-110 Peter Chardon Brooks m., Oct. 4, 1S66, Sarah, dau. Amos 
A. Lawrence, b. July 5, 1845. They had : — 

112 Eleanor, b. Sept. 18, 1867. 

113 Lawrence, " Nov. 9, 1868. 

61-111 Shepherd Brooks m., Dec. 10, 1872, Clara, dau. George 
Gardner, b. Feb. 8, 1S45. They had : — 

114 Helen, b. Dec. 30, 1875. 

115 Gorham, " June 19, 1881. 

116 Rachel, " Jan. 5, 1S83. 



532 HISTORY OF iM ED FORD. 

I CLOUGH, JOHN, b. in Marblehead. 1790; moved to 

Medford, 1816; m., 1820, Mary Ann D. Tainter, dau. of 
Elisha L. Tainter, and had: — 

I- 2 Mary Ann. 

3 Franklin W., (\. s. p. 

4 Sarah F., d. s. p. 

5 John Henry, d. j. ^. 

6 Emily. 



CRADOCK, MATHEW, the founder of Medford, was descended from an ol '. English fam- 
ily, whose pedigree is printed in the N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register for April, 1855. An abstract 
is here given: — 

John Cradock, living 1446. He fled to France for killing a man; but, receiving a pardon, 
returned and settled at Stafford, where he m. Jane, dau. of Richard Needhani, of Dorrington. 
His son John d. 11 Ed. IV. (i 471), and had by wife — dau. of R. Middleton — Richard Cradock, 
merchant of the Staple, who d. in London, 1500. He m. Alice, dau. of John Dorrington, and 
had, inter alios, Thomas, who d. 1530. This Thomas was father of Thomas, who m. Emma, 
dau. of Nicholas Meverall, and had William of Caermarthen, 1597. William m. Timothea, dau. 
of M. Wotten, and had, with others, Francis (who lived at Wickham Brook, and left issue, 
Walter, who d. s. />.), and Malhew, b. 1563, who m. Dorothy Greenway. This Mathew had 
Mathew, our patron, and Samuel, clerk at Thistleton, co. Rutland. Mathew m., ist, Damaris, 
dau. of Richard Winne, by whom he had Damaris, bap. Nov. i, 1623; and, 2d, Rebecca, dan. 
of Thomas Jordan, of. London, and had: — 

Mathew, bap. June 3, 1632. 
Thomas, " Feb. 10, 1634. 
Makv, " Nov. 27, 1637. 

It is my belief that these children all d. young, not being mentioned in his will. There was 
a George Cradock, of Boston, who is said by Hutchinson to have been a grandson of the gov- 
ernor. However, as the historian seems to be in error in the same paragraph m confusing the 
brother and nephew of Mathew, I prefer the authority of the English heralds, who mention no 
descendants of the governor. Samuel, the brother of Mathew, had Samuel, Mathew, and Zach- 
ary; of whom Samuel was rector of North Cadbury, and d. Oct. 7, 1706, aged 86. On the 
death of his father's cousin, he succeeded to the estate at Wickham Brook, which remained in 
the possession of his descendants. He published a work called " Knowledge and Practice; or 
a Plain Discourse of the Chief Things necessary to be known, believed, and practised in order 
to Salvation. Useful for private families." I have a copy of the third edition, printed in Lon- 
don, 1673. It is a very curious and learned collection of te.\ts and comments. There is also a 
funeral sermon e.xtant, preached on his death by Samuel Bury, printed in 1707. There were 
several other families of this name: one settled at Cradock Hall, in Richmond, co. York; an- 
other at Husband's Bosworth; another at Glanmorganshire (descended from Caradoc ap Ynir 
ap Ivor, lord of Dyfed) ; and a fourth is recorded in Burke's " Commoners." The name is a 
very ancient one, and occurs in the ballads concerning King Arthur. (See Percy's " Rel- 
iques.") 



CURTIS, THOMAS (i), came from York with his three 
brothers, Richard, John, and William, to Scituate. before 
1648. {I'ldc Deane's "History of Scituate.") He had 
a son, Samuel, b. 1659, who had a son, Benjamin (2), b. 
1699, who m. Rebecca House, 1723, and had several 
children. Of these, Elijah (3), b. 1740, m. Abigail Sole, 
1756, and lived on Curtis's Hill, in Scituate. By his 
second wife, Zej^orah Randall, he had two sons, Nehc- 
miah and James (4). 

4 James Curtis, b. 1779, m. Desire Otis, 1S02, and had 

several children, one of whom was; — 

4- 5 James O., b. 1804, at Scituate. He moved to Medford in 

1820, where he served an apprenticeship with Thatcher 
Magoun, Esq., and has since been engaged in ship- 
building. He m. Adeline Wait in 1826, who d. July 12, 
1858, and had : — 

5- 6 George, b. 1827. 
7 Mary Genette, " 1831. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 533 

I DEXTER, PAUL, of Medford, m. Elizabeth , and 

had: — 

1- 2 Timothy, b. Oct. 7, 1767. 

3 Elizabeth, " Dec. 16, 1769. 

4 Sarah, " May 2. 1771. 

5 Samuel, " Nov. 9, 1772. 

6 Anson, " Apr. 30, 1778. 

I- 2 Timothy Dexter m. Ruth , and had : — 

2- 7 Timothy, b. Dec. 4, 1794; d. May ro, 1823. 

8 Samuel Webster, " Nov. 2, 1796; m. Ann Whitney, 1818. 

Ci. Sarah Brigham, 1822. 

9 Anson, b. Oct. 28, 1798; m. 4 2. Lucy Richards, 1835. 

(3. Sarah Joselyn, 1839. 

10 Nancy S., b. Aug. 8, 1800; m. John W. Durgin, 1834. 

11 William Mansire, b. Feb. 7, 1802; d. July i, 1805. 

12 Jonathan W., " July 3, 1804; " Nov. I, 1824. 

13 William M., " Apr. 10, 1806; " Jan. i, 1807. 

14 Abigail P., " Dec. 21, 1807; " Feb. 14, 1855. 

15 Albert E., " Jan. 30, 1809. 

Children of Nancy S. (No. 10): — 

10-16 Anson D., b. July 29, 1835. 

17 Marcia A., " Aug. 18, 1836. 

iS Augusta v., " Aug. 20, 1S38. 

19 Abby R., " Nov. 19, 1840. 

Sarah F., " Oct. 28, 1844. 

1-4 Sarah Dexter m. Thomas Hadley, i"}-; d. Mar. i, 

1837; and had : — 
4-20 Samuel D., b. June 14, 1794; m. B. R. Bellows, May 4, 
1813. 

21 Richard W., " Oct. — , 1796; d. Nov. 5, 1S34. 

22 Sarah D., " Feb. 25, 1799; m. C. W. James, Sept. 18, 

1823. 

23 Elizabeth W., " May 21, 1S04; " J. Richardson, Dec. 12, 

1S26. 

4-22 Sarah D. Hadley m. Charles W. James, Sept. iS, 1S23, 
and had: — 

22-24 Charles H., b. June 24, 1824. 

25 Sarah A., " Nov. 5, 1825. 

26 Horatio, " May 26, 1827. 

27 William L., " July 14, 1829; d. Aug. 9, 1S33. 

28 Thomas W., K, ^ , ^ c,^ 

29 Richard O., \ ^^^- "^' ^" " Feb. 27, 1832. 

22-24 Charles H. James m. Sarah B. Hutchins, Apr. 24, 1850, 

and had : — 
24-30 Isabel E., b. Feb. 18, 1851. 

22-26 Horatio James m. Caroline J. Mansfield, Dec. 25, 1S51, 

and had : — 
26-31 Stanley W., b. Aug. 24, 1853. 



534 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

I FRANCIS, RICHARD, of Cambridge, m. Alice , 

and had : — 

1- 2 Stephen, b. Feb. 7, 1645. 

3 Sarah, '• Dec. 4, 1646; m. John Squires. 

4 John, " Jan. 4, 1650. 

Richard d. Mar. 24, 1687, aged about Si. 

I- 2 Stephen Francis m. Hannah Hall, Dec. 27, 1670, who 

d. Apr. 2. 1683; he then m. Hannah Dickson, Sept. 16, 
1683. His children were: — 

2- 5 Hannah, b. Sept. 28, 1671 ; d. June 17, 1677. 

6 Stephen, " Aug. 15, 1674; " Sept. 24, 1719. 

7 Hannah, " June 18, 1677; " young. 

8 Hannah, " Apr. 7, 1C80. 

I- 4 John Francis, who d. Jan. 3, 172S, m. Lydia Cooper, Jan. 
5, 1688, who d. Aug. 24, 1725, aged 63, and had: — 
4- 9 John, b. Oct. 10, 1 688; d. young. 

10 John, " Feb. 17, 1690. 

11 Stephen, " Nov. 2, 1691. 

12 Nathaniel, " about 1692; named in division of his 

father's estate. 

13 Samuel, " Jan. 17, 1696. 

14 Anna, " Nov. 2, 1697; m. Bcnj. Dany, July 23, 1724. 

15 Joseph, " Jan. 5, 1700. 

16 Ebenezer, " Oct. 30, 1701 ; d. Mar. 3, 1702. 

17 Lydia, " Apr. 20, 1703; m. Joseph Tufts, Jan. 12, 1727. 

18 Ebenezer, " Mar. 25, 1708; d. Feb. 2, 1727. 

He appears to have m. Eliz. Frost, Sept. 13, 1705; and, in fact, it is pos- 
sible that all these children, after Nathaniel, — that is, from and including 
No. 13, — may be the offspring of a different John and Lydia. This, how- 
ever, is but a surmise; and, from the wills, 1 judge a very improbable one. 

4-10 John Francis, and Dorothy his wife, who d. Sept. 25, 

1737' aged 33, had : — 
i8| Mary, b. Jan. 26, 1732; m. William Tufts; d. 181 2. 
He d. Aug. 31, 1750. 

4-1 1 Stephen Francis, blacksmith, is mentioned in Iiis brother 

Ebenezer's will (18). Stephen F. is apparently the one 
who m. Love, widow of Josiah Wyman, of Woburn, July 
14,1740. He had children : — 
11-19 Stephen, b. Mar. 7, 1741 ; d. June 26, 1749. 
20 Seth, " Jan. 14, 1744; " Oct. 31, 1791. 

He d. July 13, 1771. His wife d. June 22, 1767. 

4-12 Nathaniel Francis m. Sarah , and had: — 

12-21 Nathaniel, b. Jan. 6,1732. 

22 Benjamin, '• Nov. 11, 1734. 

23 Richard, " Jan. 2, 1736. 
23^ William, bap. Feb. 6, 1737. 

4-13 Samuel Francis had by his wife Mary: — 

13-24 Anna, b. Nov. 28, 1726; m. Josiah Dixon, June 16,1748. 

25 Samuel, " Jan. — , 1728. 

26 Sarah, bap. Oct. 26, 1737. 

His wife d. Apr. 21, 1774; and he followed, Sept. 29, 
1775- 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 535 

4-15 Joseph Francis and Elizabeth had : — 

15-26^ Elizabeth, b. Nov. 7, 1736. 

27 Lydia, " Dec. 12, 1737. 

28 Joseph, " July 12, 1741. 

He d. Feb. i, 1749; 'i"^ his widow d. Dec. 2, 1786. 

29 Nabhall Francis m. Sarah Whitmore, May 16, 1723; 

and, from the dates, may have been a son of John No. 4, 
born about 1694; but all these sons of this John seem, 
if ris^htly traced, to have married comparatively late in 
lifeTand the unusual length of the generations seems to 
call for another generation to be inserted. 

30 John Francis, jun., who d. Apr. 2, 1776, had by wife 

Dorothy : — 

30-31 Manning, b. Nov. 20, 1748; d. Sept. 6, 1749. 

32 Phebe, " Mav 25, 1753. 

33 Deborah, " Apr. 21, 1755; m. John Lagood, Feb. 9, 1755. 

34 Sarah, " May 22, 1757. 

35 John, " Apr. 6, 1760. 

36 David, " June 23, 1764. 

37 Mary, " May, 1767- 

38 Ebenezer Francis had by wife Rachel Tufts, whom he 

m. Nov. 15, 1733: — 

38-39 Susanna, b, Nov. 28, 1734; m. Sam. Cutter, Apr. 2b, 1757. 

40 Abigail, " Oct. 6, 1736. 

41 Lucv, " Mar. 12, 1739. 

42 Sarah, "June 6, 1741 ; m.ThomasWyer, Mar.8, 1766. 

43 Ebenezer, " Dec. 22, 1744. 

44 William, " Apr. 20, 1746. 

45 Thomas, " July 15, 1748- 

46 Aaron, " Feb. 16, 175 1. 

47 John, " Sept. 28, 1753. 

Ebenezer d. July 16, I774- 

12-21 Nathaniel Francis m. Phebe , and had: — 

"21-48 Nathaniel, b. Oct. 13,1752. 

49 Jonathan, " Jan. 27, 1755. 

50 Stephen, " July 25, I757- 

51 Joseph, " Aug. 8, 1759. 

52 Phebe, " Sept. 13, 1761. 

53 Thomas, " May 3, 1763. 

54 Caleb, " Mar. 8, 1766. 
^S Joshua, " July, 1767- 

Benjamin Francis m., ist, Lydia , who d. /an., 176S ; 

2d, Sarah Hall, Oct. 20, 1768; and d. June 5, 179^- ■"« 
had : — 
22-56 Benjamin, b. Sept. 6, 1759; tl. m Baltmiore. 

57 James. 

58 William, lives in Newburyport. 

59 Convers, b. July 14, 1766. 

60 Ebenezer. 

61 Simon. 

62 Nathaniel. 



12—22 



536 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

63 Stephen. 

64 Sarah, m. Mr. Bond, of Middletown. 

65 Lydia, " Job Wyeth, of Cambridge. 

12-23 Richard Francis, by wife Hannah Winship, wliom he m. 

Mar. 20, 1760, had : — 
23-66 Richard, b. Dec. 16, 1760. 

67 Loring, " June 7, 1762. 

68 Samuel, " Aug. 26, 1764. 

69 Daniel, " June 25, 1766. 

22-59 CoNVERS Francis m. Susanna Rand, May 11, 17S8, who d. 

May 7, 1S14, aged 4S, and had : — 

James, b. June 12, 1789; lives at Wayland. 

Susanna, " Oct. 7, 1790; m. J. K. Frothingham, Charles- 
town. 

Mary, " May 29, 1793; " Warren Preston; d. Sept. 
21, 1847. 

Convers, b. Nov. 9, 1795; of Harvard College. 

Lydia, " Feb. 11, 1802; m. David L. Child. 

Lydia Francis m. Ebenezer Blount, Feb. 17, 1739. 

Sarah Francis m. Josiah Smith of Lexington, Nov. 15, 

1750. 
Lydia Francis m. Benjamin Tufts, March 4, 1779. 
Hannah Francis m. Isaac Amsdell of Marlborough, June 

7, 1725- 
Lydia Francis m. Nathaniel Pierce, Mar. i, 16S5. 
Elizabeth Francis d. Nov. 12, 1750. 
Samuel Francis, jun., d. Oct. 15, 1775 ; and his wife d. May 

15, 1775- 
Jane, widow of John Francis, d. Dec. 16, iSoo, aged 63. 



FULTON, JOHN, was born in Boston, 1736, and moved 
to Medford in 1772, where he owned land bounded by 
the street which now bears his name. His father is said 
to have emigrated from Ireland, to enjov liberty of con- 
science, and was one of the proprietors of the Federal- 
street Church. He m. the oldest daughter of Samuel 
Bradlee of Boston, whom he left a widow with ten chil- 
dren. She died, aged 95. One of her daughters m. 
Nathan Wait of Maiden, who was b. 1763, and d. 1S40, 
in Medford. 



1* 


GREENLEAF, STEPHEN, m. Mary 


, and had 


I*- I 


Gardiner, b. Jan. 9,1726. 




-7 


Elizabeth, " Dec. 7, 1727. 




3 


Mary, " Apr. 25, 1734. 




4 


Stephen, " Aug. 5, 1736. 




5 


Rebecca, " Mar. 19, 1739. 




6 


Isaac, " May 27, 1744. 





He was probably a descendant of Edmund Greenleaf of Newbury, 1638. 
and brother of Enoch 2*, menlioned below. l^Vide " History of Newbury."] 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 537 

2* Enoch Greenleaf m. Hannah Bradshaw, Feb. 17, 1726, 

and had : — 
2*- 7 Hannah, b. Dec. 23, 1726; d. Apr. 21, 1736. 

8 John, " Oct. 30, 1729. 

9 Edmond, " Aug. 17, 1731 ; " Mar. 9, 1736. 

10 Judith, " July 26, 1733. 

11 Samuel, " Oct. 24, 1735; " Jan. 7, 1741. 

12 Edmond, " Jan. 21, 1740. 

I*- I Gardiner Greenleaf m. Catharine Thompson, Jan. 21, 

174S, who died Apr. 8, 1768, aged 38. He died Nov. 21, 
1808, leaving — 
1-13 Gardiner, b. Aug. 20, 1748. 

14 Rebecca, " Sept. 25, 1750; m. Benj. Floyd, Apr. 30, 1770. 

15 Mary, " Oct. 11, 1752; " Sam. Kidder, May 19, 1778. 

16 Jonathan, " June 9, 1754. 

17 Catharine, " May 23, 1756; " E. Thompson, May 21, '78. 

18 Hannah, " Mar. 3, 1758; " Francis Tults, June 12, '75. 

19 Gardiner, " July 14, 1765. 

20 Abigail, " Apr. i, 1768. 

I*- 4 Stephen Greenleaf m. Maria , and had: — 

4-21 Eliza Mason, b. Dec. i, 1764. 

I*- 6 Isaac Greenleaf m. Mary Tufts, Dec. 10, 1772; but, 

his wife dving June 24, 1776, aged 25, he m. Sarah, dau. 
of Jacob Rhoades, Apr. 30, 1778. She was b. Dec. i, 
1756, and d. Nov. 6, 1829, aged 72. He d. Feb. 19, 1807, 
leaving : — 
6-22 Isaac, b. Feb. 3, 1779; m. Hepzibah Shed. 

23 Sarah, " Sept. — , 1780; d. unm. Sept. 15, 1S07. 

24 Mary, "Jan. 29,1782; " " July 11, 1805. 

25 Hannah H., " Apr. 5, 1784; m. Henry Reed. 

26 Rebecca, " Nov. 6,1786; " John Burridge, jun. 

27 Abigail H., " Nov. 24, 1788; " Thomas Shed. 

28 Eliza H., " Sept. 14, 1791 ; d. unm. May i, 1821. 

29 Harriet, " Nov. 14, 1794; m. Henry Rogers. 

1-13 Gardiner Greenleaf m. Lydia , and had : — 

13-30 Gardiner, b. May 5, 1789. 

I -16 Jonathan Greenleaf m. Joanna Manning, May 5, 1778, 
and had : — 

16-31 Jonathan, b. Feb. 16, 1784. 

32 Mary Manning, " Dec. 28, 17S6. 

33 William, " " Oct. 7, 1788. 

34 Joseph, " Jan. 31, 1794. 

35 Sarah, " Oct. 25, 1797. 

6-22 Isaac Greenleaf m. Hepzibah Shed, Feb. 18, 1803, who 

was b. April 6, 17S0, and d. Sept. 21, 1S27. He had : — 

22-36 Hepzibah,* b. May 17, 1804; m. G. Fifield, Dec. 28, 1823. 

37 Mary, b. Sept. i, 1807; d. young. 

38 Sarah A., b. Nov. 13, 180S ; m. I. B. Mott; d. Dec. 2, 1836, 

s.p. 

39 George G., b. Jan. 26, 1S13. 



538 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

40 Lydia S., b. Dec. 16, 1816; m. Rufus C. Smith. 

41 Edward H., " Sept. 25, 1819 ; " Car. S. Colby of West- 

port. 

42 Manasseh K., " Mar. 25, 182 1 ; d. unm., May 26, 1849. 

Hepzibah* had, by Gardner Fifield, — 
George G., b. Oct. 27, 1824; m. Sarah E. Richardson. 
James F., " Sept. 15, 1826; " Tamzay Holbrook. 

Frederick I., " Oct. 31, 182S; d. April 16, 1830. 
Frederick P., " Oct. 24, 1831 ; " May 23, 185 1. 
Georgianna I., " Sept. 8, 1836. 
Winslow W., " Oct. 2, 1840. 
William E., " Mar. 19, 1845. 



2- 



HALL, WIDOW MARY, of Cambridge, had lands given 
her by that town, 1662, when she united with the church. 
Her children were all adults then. She had — 

2 John. 

3 Susanna. 

4 Stephen. 

5 William. 

6 Mary, m. Israel Meade, Feb. 26, 1669. 

7 Hannah, " Stephen Francis, Dec. 27, 1670. 

8 Lydia, " Gershom Cutter, i mo. 6, 1677-8. 

John Hall was of Concord, 1658. He m., 4 mo. 2, 1656, 
Elizabeth Green of Cambridge, dau. of Percival and 
Ellen Green. John was of Cambridge 1667-1675. He 
bought lands at Medford, June 27, 1675, of Caleb Hobart, 
which he mortgaged to him the same day as security, 
and redeemed Alay 2, i68i,for two hundred and sixty 
pounds. His children were : — 

9 Elizabeth, b. 18, 7 mo., 1658; m. John Oldham. 

10 John, " 13, 10 " 1660. 

11 Nathaniel, " 7, 5 " 1666. 

12 Mary, " 1668; m. John Bradshaw. 

13 Stephen, " 1670. 

14 Percival, " Feb. 11, 1672. 

15 Susanna, " 

16 Jonathan, " 

17 Sarah, " 

18 Thomas. 

I- 4 Stephen Hall was of Concord; afterwards (in 16S5) of 

Stow, of which latter place he was representative in 
1689. He m., Dec. 3, 1663, Ruth Davis, and had: — 
4-19 .Samuel, b. Dec. 8, 1665. 

20 Ruth, " Jan. 12, 1670. 

21 Mary, " June i, 1677. 

22 Elizabeth, " Apr. 7, 1685. 

I- 5 William Hall m. 18, 8 mo., 1658, Sarah Meriam of Con- 

cord, where he lived. He d. Mar. 10, 1667. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 539 

2-10 John Hall of Medford m., Dec. 2, 16S7, Jemima Syll of 

Cambridge; and d. Nov. 14, 1720. He had: — 

10-23 John, Id. Sept. 11, 1689; d. Oct. 2, 16S9. 

24 John, " Sept. 19, 1690. 

25 William, " June 24, 1692 ; " Oct. 4, 1694. 

26 William, " Nov. i, 1694; " Jan. 3, 1695. 

27 Elizabeth, " June 10, 1696. 

28 Andrew, " May 5, 169S. 

29 Jemima, " Oct. 8, 1700; m., Jan. 14, 1725,2. Alden of 

Boston. 

30 Joseph, " Nov. 30, 1702. 

31 Stephen, " Jan. 19, 1704. 

32 Martha, " Aug. 20, 1706. 

(And perhaps two others.) 

2-1 1 Nathaniel Hall m., April 16, 1690, Elizabeth Cutter, 
and had : — 

11-33 Elizabeth, b. Jan. 9, 1691. 

34 Nathan, " Oct. 25, 1694; d. Sept. 22, 1773, s.p. 

35 Susanna, " Aug. 30, 1696. 

36 Sarah, " Sept. S, 1698. 

37 Tabitha, " Nov. 9, 1699; m.Wm. Benford, Sept. 16, 1723. 

38 William, " Feb. 9, 1705. 

2-13 Stephen Hall of Charlestown m., ist, Grace , who 

d. of smallpox, Nov. 12, 1721 ; and. 2d, Feb. 5, 1739, 
Mrs. Anne Nowel. He d. Sept. 3, 1755, aged 85. His 
children were : — 
13-39 Stephen, b. Nov. 5, 1693. 

40 Grace, " June 17, 1697; m. Isaac Parker. 

41 Esther, " Dec. 27, 1700; " Dec. 18, 1729, Peter Eades. 

42 Josiah, " May 12, 1705. 

43 Willard, " . 

44 Ruth, " 1708; m. 1st, July 8, 1725, John 

Weber; 2d, Dec. 11, 1735, T. Symmes. 

2-14 Perctval Hall of Sutton, 1720; m. at Woburn, Oct. iS, 

1697, Jane Willis. He was one of the founders of the 
church at Medford ; was one of the original proprietors 
of Sutton, and deacon. He died Dec. 25, 1752. Chil- 
dren : — 
14-45 Percival, b. Nov. 13, 1698; m. Lydia Bounds, d. s.p. 

46 Jane, " May 15, 1700. 

a. Mary. 

b. Elizabeth. 

c. Stephen, " Apr. 2, 1709. 

d. Martha. 

47 Thomas, " Aug. 15, 1712. 

48 Zaccheus, ),. t 

^ c- r Jan. 11, 1714-15. 

49 Susanna, \ ^ > / t j 

50 Grace, " Oct. 7, 171 7. 

51 Willis, " Mar. 7, 1719-20. 

2-16 Jonathan Hall m., 1702, Lydia Cutter, who d. Jan. i, 

1754. He d. Jan. 12, 1754, leaving: — 
16-52 Jonathan. 



540 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

53 Lydia, b. Apr. 27, 1705; m. James Tufts of Charlestown, 

June 27, 1722. 

54 Gershoni, d. Dec. 9, 1718. 

2-18 Thomas Hall was deacon of the church at Medford ; m. 

1st, Dec. 22, 1702, Hannah Cutter; 2d, Alngail , 

who d. Sept. 8, 1745; 3d, Apr. 16, 1747, EHzabeth Davis. 
He d. Jan. 25, 1757. His children were, by first wife : — 

18-55 Thomas, b. Oct. 5, 1703. 
By second marriage : — 

56 Edward, b. Apr. 11, 1707. 

57 Abigail, " Oct. 24, 1708. 

58 Ruth, " July r, 171 2; d. Oct. 30, 1714. 

59 John, " "Mar. 17, 171 5. 

60 Ruth, " Aug. 20, 1719. 

61 William, " June 11, 1721. 

62 Samuel, " Nov. 27, 1723; " May 7, 1726. 

63 Samuel, " May 7, 1725; (?) d. Mar. 30, 1729. 

64 Rebecca, " Feb. 28, 1727; m., Nov. 13, 1745, A. Blanch- 

ard, jun. 

65 Samuel, " Jan. 22, 1730. 

10-24 John Hall (Captain) m. Elizabeth Walker, Apr. 27, 1720; 
and d. Aug. 8, 1746. His children were : — 

24-66 John, b. Nov. 24, 1720. 

67 Elizabeth, " Mar. 24, 1722. 

68 Susanna, " May 9, 1724. 

69 Timothy, " Mar. 13, 1726. 

70 Samuel,' "Apr. 2, 1728 ; m. Mary Hall ; and d. 1772, j./. 

71 Joseph, " Mar. 29, 1730. 

72 Jemima, " Dec. 2, 1732. 

73 Nathaniel, " June 7,1735. 

74 Ebenezer, " July 21, 1737. 

75 Zachariah, " Jan. 9, 1740. 

10-2S Andrew Hall m. Nov. 22, 1722, Abigail Walker, who d. 
Aug. 26, 1 7S5, aged 88. He d. June, 1750. Children: — 

28-76 Andrew, b. Oct. 6, 1723. 

'J'] Abigail, " Apr. 15, 1725 ; m. Fitch. 

'jZ James, " Apr. 17, 1727 ; d. Aug. 20, 1729. 

79 Sarah, " Dec. i, 1729; d. Nov. 28,1792. 

• 80 Benjamin, " Jan. 27, 1 730. 

81 James, "Apr. 8, 1733; "Nov. 8,1763. 

82 Anna, " Mar. 17, 1735; m. Brooks. 

83 Richard, " Nov. 12, 1737. 

84 Isaac, •' Jan. 24, 1739. 

85 Josiah, " Jan. 11, 1741 ; d. May i, 1743. 

86 Josiah, " Oct. 17, 1744. 

87 Ebenezer, " May 31, 174S; " Mar. 21, 1835. 

88 Enoch, '• Oct. 30, 1749; " Ajjr. 2, 1750. 

10-31 Stfj'HKN Hall, jun., m. Mary , and had : — 

31-89 Willis, b. Aug. 20, 1733. 

90 Stephen, " Mar. 7, 1735. 

91 Aaron, " Apr. 23, 1737. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 54 1 

92 Mary, b. Apr. 27, 1739 

93 Ezekiel, " Apr. 14, 1741 

94 Elizabeth, " May 15, 1743 

95 Jane, " Apr. 11, 1746, 

96 Edmund, " July 15, 1749 

13-39 Stephen Hall, the lieutenant, m. Elizabeth , who d. 

Feb. 3, 1764. He d. Sept. 3, 1755. Children: — 
39-97 Mary, b. Apr. 17, 17 19. 

98 Stephen, " Aug. 10, 1721. 

99 Sarah, " Oct. 14, 1724. 

100 Elizabeth, " Dec. 19, 1725; d. Sept. 9, 1749. 

13-43 WiLLARD Hall grad. H. C. 1722, and was the minister 

of Westford. He m. Abigail Cotton of Portsmouth, 
who d. Oct. 20, 1789, and dying Mar. 19, 1779, left: — 
43-101 Willard, b. June 12, 1730. 

10^ Elizabeth " Oct 24 17-,- • m 5 ist, Caleb Symmes. 
10- tiizabetn, '-'". 24, I7j_, m. -j ^^^ g^^^^^j^ Pj^^^^^^.^ 

103 Abigail, " July 19, 1734; " Abbot of Billerica. 

104 Ann, " Apr. 22, 1736; " L. Whiting of Hollis,N.H. 

105 Mary, " July 30, 1738; "Jonas Minot of Concord. 

106 Martha, " June 8, 1741 ; d. young. 

107 Stephen, " May 28, 1743. 

108 Willis, " Nov. 14, 1747. 

109 Isaiah, " Jan. ig, 1749. 
no Martha, " July 16, 1752. 
Ill Grace, m. Benjamin Whiting. 

1 4-46 r. Stephen of Sutton, was quartermaster in the old 

French war; m. Apr. 17, 1745, Widow Sarah (Taft) 
Reed, and had : — 
\(dc.-\\\a. Stephen, b. Jan. 24,1746. 

b. Joseph, " Feb. 25, 1748. 

c Elizabeth " Feb -8 i7s-o- m 5 'st, Benj. Swinerton. 

c. £.iizaDetn, j^eo. -6, 17^0, m. | ^^^ ^ Thompson. 

d. John, " Apr. 26, 1752. 

e. Samuel R., " Jan. 21, 1755. 

f. Emerson, " Apr. 21, 1758. 

g. Lucy, " Jan. 7, 1761 ; d. Nov. 7, 1777. 

14-47 Thomas Hall m. ist, June 30, 1737, Judith Chase; 2d, 

Huldah ; removed late in life to Cornish, N.H., 

and there d. 1797. He had : — 
47-112 Percival, b. Mar. 15,1740-1. 

113 Thomas, " Mar. 23, 1742-3.. 
113(7. Sarah, " Aug. 28, 1745. 

b. Thomas, " Dec. — , 1747. 

c. Mary, " June 10, 1750. 

d. Betty, " June 9, 1753. 

e. Moses, " Aug. 27, 1755; d. in Guildhall, V't. 
/ Judith, " Sept. 16, 1757. 

And by second wife : — 

114 Moody, b. Feb. 25, 1760. 
114^. Huldah, " July 26, 1761. 



542 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

14-48 Zaccheus removed to New Braintree ; m. Mary ; 

and had (born in Sutton): — 
48-1141^. Elias, b. Sept. 23, 1743. 

c. Mary, " Sept. 17, 1745. 

d. Zaccheus, " July i, 1749. 

e. Aaron. 

14-51 Willis Hall of Sutton was deacon, representative, 

etc., and a man of wealth. He m. ist. May 15, 1746, 
Martha Gibbs, who d. Feb. i, 1756; 2d, Anna, dau. of 
William and Anna Cove, and had : — 
5I-II5«. Willis, b. May 29, 1747/ (A captain in the Revolutionary 
army.) 

b. Jacob, b. Feb. — , 1749. 

c. Martha, " Sept. 12, 1751. 

d. Grace, " Oct. 30, 1753. 

e. Olive, " Dec. 11, 1755. 

And by second wife : — 

/ Jonathan, b. Oct. 21, 1757. 

g. Josiah, " Oct. 5, 1759. 

h. Israel, " Jan. 21, 1762. 

116 Nathaniel, " Apr. 9, 1764. 
ii6«. Joseph, " Jan. 26, 1767. 

16-52 Jonathan Hall m. ist, Feb. 17, 1731, Elizabeth Tufts; 

2d, Nov. 22, 1739, Anna Fowle ; and d. Dec. 25, 1753. 
He had: — 
52-117 Jonathan, b. Oct. 16, 1733. 

118 Samuel, " Nov. 2, 1740. 

119 Elizabeth, "Oct. 22, 1742 ; d. Oct. 27, 1742. 

120 Daniel, " Oct. 9, 1744. 

121 Gershom, "July 21,1746; "Apr. 7,1767. 

122 Ebenezer, " Sept. 12, 1749; " Feb. — , 1776. 

123 Daniel, " Dec. 9, 1751 ; "Feb. 25, 1773. 
123^ , "Jan. 2,1754; "Jan. 2,1754. 

18-56 Edward Hall m. Abigail , who d. Aug. 31, 1748. 

He d. Jan. 28, 1749. Children: — 
56-124 Abigail, b. Aug. 10, 1733 ; m. Sara. Giles, Jan. 31, 1784. 

125 Joshua. 

126 Luke, " — — ,1741. 

127 Mary, " Apr. 26, 1746; d. Jan. 28, 1749. 

24-66 John Hall, m. Oct. 22, 1746, Mary Keisar, and had: — 

66-128 John, b. July 24, 1747. 

129 Henry, " June 29, 1749. 

130 Moses," Nov. 28, 1750. 

24-69 Timothy Hall m. June 29, 1749, M. Cutter, and had: — 

69-131 Mary, b. Feb. 15,1750. 

132 Timothy, " Dec. 12, 1751 ; d. Jan. 21, 1753. 

133 Timothy, " Oct. 24,1753. 

134 Susanna, " June 3, 1756. 

135 Ammi-Ruhamah,b. Aug. 27, 1758- 

136 Samuel, b. Oct. 5, 1760. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 543 

137 John, b. Feb. 9, 1753. 

138 Sarah, " May 12, 1765. 

24-71 Joseph HALLm. Nov. 24, 1757, Abigail Brooks, and had: — 

71-139 Caleb, b. Oct. 27, 1758. 
140 Joseph, " Dec. 2, 1759. 

24-74 Ebenezer Hall m. Nov. 3, 1763, Susanna Floyd, and 

had : — 
74-141 Abigail, b. Apr. 6, 1767. 

142 Ebenezer,'- May 10, 1770. 

143 Gilbert, " Sept. 27, 1771. 

24-75 Zachariah Hall, who d. Oct. 30, 1795, m. Mehitable 

, and had : — 

75-144 Samuel, b. June 11,1772. 
145 Daniel, " Oct. 17, 1774. 

28-76 Andrew Hall (a shipmaster), m. Sarah , and had : — 

76-146 Abigail, b. Jan. 28, 1751. 

28-80 Benjamin Hall m. Hepzibah Jones (b. May 6, 1734), May 

3,1752. He d. Feb. 2, 1817. His wife d. Aug. 10, 1790, 
aged 56 ; and had : — 
80-147 Benjamin, b. Aug. 9, 1754. 

148 Ephraim, " June i, 1756. 

149 Fitch, " Jan. 28, 1759. 

150 Andrew, " Feb. 26, 1761. 

151 Hepzibah, " June 25, 1764; m. J. B. Fitch, Jan. 27, 17S5. 

28-81 James Hall m. Mary Watson, Mar. 27, 1760, and d. Nov. 

18, 1763. He had : — 
81-152 Mary, b. Jan. 15, 1761. 

28-83 Richard Hall m. Nov. 9, 1762, Lucy Jones, who was b. 

Oct. 13, 1745, and d. Feb. 10, 1826. He d. June 27, 
1827. Child: — 
83-153 Richard, b. Aug. 29, 1764; d. July 16, 1765. 

28-84 Isaac Hall m. Abigail Cutter, Oct. 8, 1761, and had: — 

84-154 Abigail, b. Oct. 12, 1762. 

155 Elinor, " July 23, 1764. 

156 Isaac, " Aug. 5, 1766; d. May 17, 1770. 

157 James, " Dec. 25, 1768, 

158 Isaac, " June 20, 1774; " July 22, 1775. 

159 Rebecca, " May 28, 1776. 

28-87 Ebenezer Hall m. Apr. 12, 1770, Martha Jones, sister 

of the wives of Richard and Benjamin, ante. She was 
born June 19, 1750; and d. Dec. 22, 1835. He d. Mar. 
21, 1S35, and had : — 
87-160 Ebenezer, b. May 11,1771. 

161 Richard, " Feb. 24, 1774 ;d. Oct. 19, 1798. 

162 Ephraim, " Feb. 17, 177O; m. Feb. 2, 1817, J. T. Rey- 

nolds. 

163 Martha, b. June 24, 1778; d. June 23, 1780. 

164 Lucy, " Nov. 28, 1782; m. Josiah Bradlee of Boston. 



544 Hr STORY OF MED FORD. 

165 Isaac, b. Mar. 12, 17S3; m. Susan Mitchell, Nantucket. 

fi. Ann Gray, Dec. 20, 

166 Andrew, " Oct. 21, 1788; " J , '^'^■ r- ^t c . 

' 111 ^2. Ann G. Moor, Sept., 

I 1S19. 

31-89 Willis Hall m. Sarah , who d. Nov. 11, 1790; and 

had : — 

89-167 George H., b. Jan. 8, 1763. 

168 Willis, " Sept. ID, 1764. 

169 Nathaniel, " Mar. 12, 1767. 

170 Ann, " Oct. 10, 1770. 

171 Mary, " Sept. 28, 1772. 

172 Edward, " Jan. 19, 1778. 

173 Sarah, " Oct. 12, 1780. 

174 Elizabeth, " Jan, 13, 1783. 

31-90 Stephen Hall, the 4th, had wife Mary , and had : — 

90-175 Stephen, b. Dec. 22, 1770. 

176 Mary, " June 22, 1772. 

177 Elizabeth, " Mar. 10, 1777. 

178 Zechariah, " Dec. 16, 177S. 

31-91 Aaron Hall m. Jan. 3, 1760, Rebecca Pool, and had: — 

91-179 Rebecca, b. Nov. 9, 1760. 

3 1-93 EzEKiEL Hall m, Anna , and had : — 

93-180 Ezekiel, ? u t 1 rr 

^ 181 Elizabelh, fb. July 15, 1766. 

182 Samuel, " July, 1769. 

39-98 Stephen Hall m. Sarah , and had: — 

98-183 Sarah, \ , ^ ^, 

184 Lucy, \ ^- ^^P^- -^' '744- 

185 Stephen, '• Jan. 3, 1746. 

186 Simon, " Apr. 9, 1747. 

187 Jacob, " Jan. 9, 1749. 

188 Elizabeth, " Mar. 11, 1750; d. I\Iar. 20, 1750. 

189 Francis, " May 18, 1751. 

190 Elizabeth, " May 10, 1753. 

191 Mary, " Apr. 3, 1757. 

43-101 WiLLARD Hall m. , and had: — 

101-192 Willard. 

193 Isaiah, d. s. p. 

194 James, " in Vermont, leaving one child. 

195 Joseph F., m. Miss Moore, and lives in Groton. 

196 Abigail, " ist, Oliver Spaulding; 2(1, Giles. 

197 Sarah, d. unm. 

198 Ruth. 

43-107 Stephen Hall grad. H. C. 1765, where he was tutor. 

Was educated for the ministry, but never settled. He 
m. Mary Holt, widow of Moses Holt, jun., and settled 
in Portland, where his wife d. July 27, 1808, aged 54. 
Children : — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 545 

107-199 John, b. Jan. 21, 1778; armorer at Harper's Ferry, and! 
known by " Hall's carbine ; " father of Willard P. Hall, 
late M. C. from Missouri, 

200 Martha, b. Oct. 10, 1779. 

201 Mar)', " Dec. 13, 1783. 

202 William A., " Oct. 6, 1785. 

203 Willard, " June 5, 1788. 

204 Martha C, " Jan. 26, 1792; d. Nov. 26, 1847. 

43-108 Willis Hall lived and died at Westford. He m. Me- 
hitable Pool, and had : — 

108-205 Willard, b. Dec. 24, 1780. 

206 William C, " , 1 783. 

207 Benjamin. 

208 Elizabeth. 

209 Mehitable, m. Stephen Dow. 

210 Hannah, " T. R. Wright, of Pepperell. 

211 Frances. 

Willard (205) has been Secretary of State in Delaware, 1811-1814; Rep- 
resentative to Congress, 1816-1820; District Judge U. S. Ct., May 6, 1823, 

besides taking a conspicuous part on State questions. He m. , and 

had one child, b. 1809, who m. Dr. Robert R. Porter of Wilmington. 

46^.-111 «. Stephen Hall, of Sutton, m. Abigail , and 

had: — 

iiirt.-2ii a. Abigail, b. Dec. 7, i77o;m. Amos Batchelder. 

b. Stephen, " Mar. 4, 1773. 

c. Sarah, " Aug. 20, 1775; " Elkanah Otis. 

d. Betsey, "Mar. 4,1778;" Capt. D.Stone, Oxf'rd. 

e. Simon, " Mar. 27, 1780. 

f. William," Mar. 9, 17S3; lived in Sutton, on land 

inherited from Percival, his great-grandfather. 

g. Mary, b. Feb. 22, 17S5; m. Eli Servey. 
//. Calvin, " Jan. 23, 1789; is of Sutton. 

^dc.-xwb. Joseph Hall, a mason, resided in Richmond, Vt. ; 

and d. there, Nov. 22, 1822. He m. in 1769, Mary 
Trowbridge, of Newton, b. Nov., 1750; d. Dec. 
28, 1824; and had: — 
iii<5.-2ii i. Thaddeus, b. Mar. 28,1770. 

j. Sarah, " Nov. 26, 1771 ; m. Orin Stevens. 

k. Amasa, " June 4, 1774; d. young. 

/. Abner, " July 25, 1775; " " 

///. Polly, " May 15, 1777; m. James Butler. 

n. Joseph, " Sept. 14, 1779; is living. 

o. Louis, " Dec. 7, 1781 ; d. in infancy. 

p. Edmund T., " June i, 1783; is living. 

q. P^then, " Sept. 12, 1785 ; m. Isaac Hallock. 

r. Asher, " June 25, 1787. 

s. Anna, " Apr. 19, 1789; " Aaron Curtis. 

/. John, " , 1 791 ; d. young. 

u. Betsey, " , 1793; " " 

V. Lucy, " Sept. 22, 1796; m. Nathan Smith. 



Thaddeus, 




Nov. 


Jonas, 
Dolly, 
John, 
Harriet, 




Jan. 
Feb. 
Oct. 
Mar. 


Hannah, 




Jan. 


Shrewst 
Increase S. 


)ury. 
,,b. Apr. 



546 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

\^c-\\\d. John Hall, of Sutton, m. Jan. 28, 1777, Dolly 

Ward, and had : — 
Lucy, b. Jan. 10, 1778; m. Joseph Nelson. 

30> I779- 

13, 1782. 

12, 1785; m. John Haskell. 

28, 1787; a scythe manufacturer. 

4, 1792; m. Jonathan Putman. 

9, 1794; " Smith, of 

3, 1797; d. s.p. 

46^.-111 e. Samuel Reed Hall was a clergyman in Croyden, 

N.H.; Guildhall, Vt. ; and in Rumford, Me., where 
he d. Nov., 1814. He m. Elizabeth Hall, and 
had: — 

Hannah, m. Michael Amy. 

Lucy, " Caleb Amy. 

Betsey, " John Whitter. 

Samuel, " Hannah Swinerton. 

Reed. 

Chloe, " Asa Swinerton. 

Hezekiah, was a clergyman. 

Sarah. 

Josiah Brewer. 

Theodosia. 

Samuel Reed, was a clergyman in Brownington, Vt. 

46^.-111/ Emerson Hall, of Boscawen, N. H., m. Tabitha 

Goldthwait, of Northbridge, and had : — 
Tabitha. > 
Lydia. \ 
Eleazer. 
Ebenezer. 
Lucy. 

47-1 1 2 Percival Hall was a physician and surgeon in the 

Revolutionary war: and d. at Boston, Sept., 1825. 
He m. Margaret Ware, of Wrentham, who d. aged 
81. Children: — 
1 1 2-2 1 2 Jairus. ' 

213 Sewall. 

214 Jeffries. 

215 Bradshaw, d. in Castine, 1826, leaving six children. 
216. Timothy, b. 1769; father to Rev. J. Hall of New- 
castle, Me. 

48-1 14 e. Aaron Hall m. , and had : — 

1 14 ^.-216 fl!. Daughter, m. Asa Parsons. 

b. Appiiia, " Sylvester Judd, Esq., of Southampton. 

c. Irene, " Samuel Matthews. 

d. Drusilla, " Johnson of Hadley. 

' A lawyer; for more than twenty years a member of Vermont Legislature; Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas, etc.; d. in Boston in 1849. 



I 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 547 

e. Arethusa, lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. 

f. Richardson, lives in Greenfield, Me. 

g. Samuel, is a clergyman. 

51-115^. JosiAH Hall of Sutton was a captain in the Revo- 

lutionary army. He m., 1785, Mary Marble, and 
had : — 
\\^g-z\6h. Oliver, b. Dec. i, 17S5; for many years town-clerk 
of Sutton, where he now lives. 
i. Mary, b. Apr. 7, 1788; m. Alpheus Marble. 

j. Almira, " June 4, 1790; d. Sept. 18, 1795. 
k. Deborah, " Jan. 18, 1793; " Sept. 12, 1795. 

/. Hannah, " Dec. 13, I795; m. { •st,Rufus Carter. 
' o. I j3^ j 2(j^ (^j.j._ f aulkner. 

ni. Mind well, " Feb. 8, 1798; " James Phelps. 

n. Anna, " June 17, iSoo. 

o. Sarah, " May 7, 1804; d. May 11, 1839. 

51-116 Nathaniel Hall grad. D. C. 1790; settled minis- 

ter at Grantville, N.Y., where he d. July 31, 1820. 
He m., Jan. 22, 1798, Hannah, daughter of Deacon 
Daniel Emerson of HoUis, b. Dec. 7, 1773, and d. 
May 22, 1832. Children: — 
116-217 Hannah E., b. Nov. 9, 1798; m. Rev. Abijah Crane. 

218 Willis, b. Apr. i, 1801 ; Attorney-General N. Y., 

1839; ™- ^^^''s. H. Handley. 

219 Nathaniel E., m. Mary Fell, 'lives at Grantville, N.Y. 

220 Eliza. 

221 Richard B. 

222 Daniel E., b. May 9, 1810; Y. C. 1834; m. D. E. 

Kennedy; d. Apr. 24, 1852. 

223 David Brainerd, a minister at Cleveland, N.Y. 

224 ]\Iary. 

225 Edwards, Ham. Coll., 1840. 

5i-ii6rt. Joseph removed to New Salem ; m. Anna , and 

had — 

Ii6«.-225rt. Nancv, b. Apr. 19, 1793. 

b. Joseph M., " Nov. 2, 1794. 

c. Lucinda, " June 19, 1797; m. Carter Eliot. 

d. Louis, " Nov. 2, 1799. 

e. Willard, " May 25, 1802; of Milbury. 

52-117 Jonathan Hall m. Mercy , and had — 

117-226 Elizabeth, b. March 19, 1755. 

52-1 18 Samuel Hall served his apprenticeship with his uncle, 

Daniel Fowle, the first printer in N.H. He published, 
in 1768, the " Essex Gazette," at Salem, whence he re- 
moved, in 1775, to Cambridge, where he published the 
"N. E. Chronicle." He moved this latter to Boston 
next year. He published the " Salem Gazette " again 
in 1781 ; and, in 1785, the "Massachusetts Gazette." 
In 1789 he opened a book-store in Boston, which he 
sold to Lincoln & Edmands in 1805, to whom Gould 
& Lincoln were the successors. He died Oct. 10, 
1807. 



548 HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 

66-130 Moses Hall m. Martha , and had — 

130-227 John, b. Oct. 5, 1776. 

228 Moses, " Dec. 8, 1777. 

229 Martha, " Mar. 7, 1780. 

230 Mary Kiesar, " Sept. 16, 1783. 

231 Moses, " Dec. 13, 1785. 

232 Elizabeth, " Apr. 11, 1787. 

233 James, " May 29, 1788. 

74-142 Ebenezer Hall m. Eunice , and had — 

142-234 Martha, b. Apr. 20, 1798. 
23s Mary, " Feb. 6, 1802. 

80-147 Benjamin Hall m. Lucy, dau. of Dr. Simon and Lucy 

Tufts, Nov. 20, 1777, and had — 
147-236 Dudley, b. Oct. 14, 1780. 

237 Lucy, " Mar. 27, 1783. 

238 Hepzibah, " Feb. 17, 1785. 

80-149 Fitch Hall m., May 14, 1783, Judith Brasher, and 

had — 
149-239 Fitch, b. Jan. 25,1785. 

240 Benjamin, " Feb. 27, 1786. 

241 William, " Mar. 21,1790. 

80-150 Andrew Hall m., Apr. 19, 1789, Eunice Fitch, and 

had — 
150-242 Charles J., b. Nov. i, 1790. 
243 George B., " Oct. 5, 1791. 
243-^ Eunice. 

87-160 Ebenezer Hall m., March 8, 1796, Eunice, dau. of 

Capt. Isaac Jones of Boston, and had — 
160-244 Martha, b. Apr. 20, 1798. 

245 Richard, " Aug. 22, 1800; m. Mrs. Mary A. Hay- 

ward. 

246 Mary Jane, " Feb. 7,1802. 

247 William J., " May 20, 1805. 

248 Ann Louisa, " Apr. 17, 1807; d. Dec. 14, 1834. 

249 Susan Mitchell, " Nov. 7, 1808. 

250 Lucy J., " Oct. 15, 1812. 

251 Ebenezer, " Jan. 11, 181 5. 

89-169 Nathaniel Hall m., Nov. 26, 1793, Joanna Cotton 

Brooks, and had — 
169-252 Caroline, b. Sept. 25, 1794. 

252^ Mary Brooks. 

253 Nathaniel, " Jan. 4, 1799; d. young. 

254 Edward B., " Sept. 2, 1800; H. C. 1820. 

254^ Nathaniel, " Sept. 23, 1805; min. of ist ch., Dor- 

chester. 

255 Peter Chardon, " Dec. 26, 1809. 

98-189 Francis Hall m. Elizabeth , and had — 

189-256 Elizabeth, b. May 6, 1785. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

147-236 Dudley Hall had — 

236-257 Dudley C. 

258 George D. 

259 Horace D. 

/ 260 Hephza, m. Henry Bradlee. 

169-255 Peter C. Hall m. , and had — 

255-261 Ann Rose. 

262 Jane Webb. 

263 Anna. 

264 Fanny Maria. 



549 



HATHAWAY, NOAH, b. in Freetown, Mass, May 24, 
1809; m. Hannah M. Reed, b. June 23, 181 1, and had — 

Henrietta Maria, b. Mar. 14, 1S31 ; m. H. C. Vose,o£ Clare- 
mont, N.H. 



3 


Geore;e W., 


" May II, 


1832. 






4 


Ellen L., 
May 2, 1854. 


" Sept. 8, 


1833; 


" Wm. B 


utters 


5 


Gustavus W., 


" Nov. 7, 


1834. 






6 


Walter S., 


" May 31, 


1836; 


d. Sept. 30, 


1850. 


7 


Nelson F., 


" Feb. 10, 


1838. 






8 


Eliza G., 


" Apr. 2, 


1839. 






9 


Rodney C., 


" June 24, 


1840. 






10 


Susan E., 


" Oct. 24, 


1841. 






II 


Henry R., 


" Apr. 4, 


1843. 






12 


Florence A. 


" Sept. 12, 


1844. 






13 


Wilber A., 


" May 9, 


1846. 






14 


Roland H., 


" Sept. 24, 


1847. 






15 


Noah S., 


" July 7, 


1S49. 






16 


Edward A., 


" May 25, 


1851. 






17 


Martha A., 


" July 7, 


1852. 






18 


William C, 


" Sept. 14, 


1853; 


" Sept. 27, 


1853- 



ABRAHAM HOWE and JAMES HOWE of Roxbury, 

Mass., admitted freemen in 1637-38. 

Edward and Abraham Howe, of Watertown. 

Daniel and Edward Howe, of Lynn. 

John Howe, of Sudbury, 1638; died in Marlborough, 1687. 

Of these, James was son of Robert Howe of Hatfield, 

Broad Oak, Essex Co., Eng. ; died in Ipswich, 1702. 

Edward, of Lynn, came over in the " Truelove," 1635; 
died 1639, leaving issue from which the Howes of Con- 
necticut have descended. 

Daniel, of Lynn, after holding several public offices in 
Massachusetts, removed to Southampton, Long Island. 
Hardy, vigorous men, with large families. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Howe of Ipswich was hung for witch- 
craft, 1692; "but her virtues, just as those of her great 
Master, sanctified the altar." 



550 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Joseph Howe, descendant of Abraham Howe, b. in Bos- 
ton, 1 710; d. 1779. 

Joseph Howe, jun., son of the above, b. in Boston, 1753; 
d. 1818. 

He m. Sarah Davis ; issue, three sons. She d. 1786. 

He m. again to Margaret Cotton, 1787; issue, one daugh- 
ter. The mother d. 1788. 

He m. again to Sarah Simpson, 1789; issue, one son, three 
daughters. 

John Howe, son of Joseph Howe, jun., b. in Boston, Feb. 

24, 1784; d. Oct. 2, 1872. Removed to Medford, 1812. 
He m. Rebecca Hey wood of Concord, Mass., Nov. 17, 

1808. Issue by her — 
Joseph Hey wood, b. Feb. 13, 18 10; d. June 8, 1841. 
John Barrett, " Jan. 9, 1812; " May 28, 1845. 

Humphrey Barrett, " July 17, 1818. 
Albert, " Jan. 30, 1820; " Nov. 30, 1842. 

The mother d. Feb. 6, 1820, aged 31 years. 
John Howe m. again to Sarah L. Symmes, 1821. Issue 

by her — 
Henry Wait, b. Aug. 27, 1822; d. Mar. 31, 1858. 
George, " May 31, 1824. 

The mother d. Mar. 23, 1837, aged 50. 
M. again to Elizabeth W. Butters, May 17, 1849. She died 

Nov. 27, 1872, aged 84 years. 

Humphrey B. m. Susan Esther Withington, May 30, 1852. 

She was born in Medford, Apr. 20, 1829. Issue — 
Fannie Rebecca, b. inL ynn, Oct. 23, 1853. 

Elizabeth Withington, " " " July 6, 1858. 
Horace Joseph, " " " Jan. 2, i860. 

Fannie Rebecca m. James N. North of Somerville, 

Mass., Oct. 16, 1873. Issue — 
Bessie Rebecca, b. in Medford, Nov. 12, 1874. 
Marion Howe, " " Boston, Mar. 15, 1886. 

Hexry Wait Howe m. Nancy Symmes of Woburn, Feb. 

17, 1853. Issue — 
Lucy Wyman, b. May i, 1855 ; d. Sept. 16, 1855. 

George Howe m. Angeline A. Johnson, Nov., 1853. She 

died Oct., 1854. Issue — 
Amelia Johnson, b. Oct. 8, 1854; d. May 18, 1S58. 
M. again to Mary Barnes of Stoneham, June 13, 1S66. 

Issue — 
George Henry, b. Mar. 3, 1867; d. July 30, 1870. 
Mary Edith, " Dec. 30, 1873. 



The KIDDER family was settled, for several centuries, at Maresfield, in the county of Sus- 
sex, some seventy miles from London. It is believed that the only persons now living of that 
name can be traced back to this common stock. In England, the most distinguished bearer of 
this name was Richard Kidder, Bishop of I'.alh and Wells. He was born in 1633, at East (Inn- 
stead, the birthplace of the American emigrant, whose kinsman he was. He was Rector of St. 
Martin's, London; Prebend of Nonvich, i68i; Dean of Peterborough, 1689; and Bishop of 
Bath, 1691. He was killed during the great gale of Nov. 27, 1703, by the fall of a chimney on 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. ^51 

the bishop's palace at Wells, which crushed him and his wife while at prayers. His daughter, 
Ann, died unmarried; and her only sister, Susanna, married Sir Richard Everard, one of the 
early governors of South Carolina, and has numerous descendants alive in that State. 

The pedigree of the American branch, in the direct line, is: Richard Kidder (i) was living 
at Maresfield,ji492; his son, Richard (2), d. 1549, leaving eldest son, Richard (3), who d. 1563; 

m. Margaret , who d. 1545. This Richard (3) had five sons, of whom John (4), the third, m. 

Margaret Norman, of Little Horsted, and d. 1599, leaving two sons and several daughters. 
John (5), oldest son of the last, baptized 1561, m. Joan Beorge, and died in 1616, leaving four 
sons. James (6), the youngest of these, b. 1595, was the father of James (7), b., 1626, at East 
Grinstead, who moved to New England, and married Anna Moore, of Camb., N.E., in 1649. 
This foregoing pedigree is condensed from one in the History of New Ipswich, prepared by 
Frederick Kidder, a co-editor of that work. 

7 JAMES KIDDER resided first at a farm on the north side 

of Fresh Pond and Menotomy River, whence he removed 
to Shawshine, now Billerica. He had twelve children, 
of whom Samuel (8) was the youngest, who left children. 
He was b. Jan. 7, 1666; m. Sarah Griggs, Dec. 23, 1689, 
and lived near Porter's Hotel, in Cambridge, where the 
names of Kidder's Swamp and Kidder's Lane still pre- 
serve his memory. He was deacon of the church ; and 
the inventory of his estate was ^1,138. He had six 
children; the oldest was — 
8- 9 Francis Kidder, of Medford, b. 1692; m. Mary Prentice, 

Feb. 13, 1718. He d. Jan. 21, 1724; and his widow m. 
Philip Cook in 1775. His children were — 

9-10 Mary. 

11 Samuel, b. 1720. 

12 James. 

13 Francis. 

9-11 Samuel Kidder m., ist, Mary Tompson, Mar. 20, 1744, 

who d., aged 42, Mar. 30, 1766, leaving — 
11-14 Samuel, b. Sept. 17, 1746. 

15 Elizabeth, " Dec. 6, 1750. 

He m., 2d. Joanna , who d. Oct. 19, 1819, aged 79. 

He d. Mar. 6, 1777, and had — 

16 Joanna, b. Oct. 19, 1770; d. unm., Apr. 6, 181 1. 

17 Rebecca, " Sept. it, 1772; m. Abijah. Usher, Dec. 20, 1795. 

iS Mary, " Apr. 28. 1774. - Oe^-OX^ '^f^O'LUf ,.. .'V. 

19 James, " Apr. 30, 1776. / 

11-14 Samuel Kidder, j'un., m. Mary Greenleaf, May 19, 1778) 

who d. Apr. i, 1830, aged 78. He d. Dec. 16, 1821, leav- 
ing — 
14-20 Mary, b. Apr. i, 1779; m. Benjamin Abbot of Ando- 

ver. 

21 Samuel, " Sept. 4,1781; " Hannah P. Rogers. 

22 William, " Dec. 10, 1784; " Charlotte Adams. 

23 Thompson, " Apr. 17, 1788; " M. A. Cannell ; d. July 5, 

1840. 

24 Francis, " July 16, 1789; " E. Blanchard; d. May 11, 

1827. 

25 Joseph, " Apr. 30, 1791; " N. J. Homer. 

26 James, " Nov. i, 1793; d. Mar. 20, 1837, unm. 



Ephraim Kidder m. Rachel , and had 

Hannah, 7 1 c 4. ^ ,r^.r^ 
Dorothy, [^-SeP^--' '^96. 



552 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Mary Kidder, m. Caleb Brooks, Jan. i, 1767. 
Isaac " of Woburn, m. Ann Goodwin, Nov. 25, 1775. 
Mary " of Charlestown, d. Jan. 19, 1779. 
Susanna " d. ' 



Charles " 
Rebecca " 



d. Nov. 5, 1801, aged 19,) , ^^\ . 

" June 13, 1802, " 15, ^ c J'^"^^:^,^^'^ 
"Oct. 23,1814: " 12; i Susanna k.dder. 



Sir Robert Lawrence, of Ashton Hall, was a descendant of Sir Robert Lawrence, knighted 
about 1190. This Sir Robert, of Ashton, had a third son, Nicholas Lawrence, of Agercroft, 
whose fourth son was John, who d. 1461, leaving a son, Thomas L., of Ramburgh, in Suffolk. 
This Thomas d. 1471, leaving John Lawrence, oldest son, whose will is dated 1504. John had 
an only son, Robert, whose son, John (will dated 1556), was the father of Henry, John, William, 
and Richard. Of these, John d. May, 1590: his oldest son, John, settled at Wisset (will dated 
1607), and had son, Henry Lawrence, of Wisset. This Henry was father of John and Robert; 
and with this John, who emigrated to America, our record commences. 

I LAWRENCE, JOHN, of St. Albans, came to Watertown 

in 1635. He m., 1st, Elizabeth , who d. Aug. 29, 

1663; and 2d, Nov. 2, 1664, Susanna Batchelder. He d. 
at Groton, July 11, 1667, His seventh child was — 

1- 2 Enoch Lawrence, b. 5th day, istmo., 164S-9; m., Mar. 6, 

1657, Ruth Shattuck; and d. Sept. 28, 1744. His child- 
ren were — 

2- 3 Nathaniel, b. Feb. 21, 1678. 

4 Daniel, " Mar. 7, 168 1. 

5 Zechariah, " 16, 5 mo., 1683. 

6 Jeremiah, " May i, 1686. 

2- 3 Nathaniel Lawrence m. Anna ; and d. Sept. 12, 

1765. His wife d. Sept. 31, 1758, aged 73. The second 
son was — 

3- 7 James Lawrence, b. Aug. 26, 1705; m. Mary Martin, 

1733; and d. Jan. 27, 1800. His wife d. 1799, aged 87. 
He had — 

7- 8 Lemuel Lawrence, b. 1745; m. Sarah Williams, Jan., 

1768; and, dying April 24, 1733, left — 
8- 9 Sarah, b. Oct.' 13, 1768. 

10 Lemuel, " Aug. 6, 1770. 

11 Olive, " Feb. 13, 1772. 

8-10 Lemuel Lawrence m. Mercy Perham, Nov. 5, 1794; and 

d. Sept. 20, 1832. He had — 
10-12 Lemuel, b. Sept. i, 1795. 

13 Daniel, " Sept. 12, 1797; d. July 19, 1879. 

14 Clarissa," Oct. 29, 1799. 

15 Sarah, " Aug. 23, 1S06. 

10-13 Daniel Lawrence m. Elizal^eth Crocker, Sept. 25, 1823, 

who d. Oct. 2, 1884, and had — 
13-16 Mary Ann, b. Jan. 29, 1827. 

17 Daniel Warren, " Oct. 8, 1830. 

1 8 Samuel Crocker, " Nov. 22, 1832. 

19 Elizabeth Maria, "Aug. 5, 1S35 ; m. G. L. Barr, Nov. 20, 

1851. 

20 Rosewell Bigelow, " Dec. 22, 1838. 

21 William Harrison, " July 24, 1840. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 553 

13-17 Daniel W. Lawrence m. Mary Ellen Wiley, Oct. 18, 

1851, and has — 
17-22 George VV., b. Nov. 8, 1852. 

23 Rose well B., " Jan. 31, 1856. 

24 Samuel W., " Mar. 5, i860; m. Helen E. Withington, 

Feb. 22, 1882.. 



I OSGOOD, DAVID, b. Oct. 25, 1747; m. Hannah Breed, 

Nov. I, 1786, who was b. Dec. 28, 1747 ; and had — 
I- 2 Mary, b. Sept. 12, 17S7. 

3 Lucy, " Apr. 8, 1789; d. Apr. 22, 1789. 

4 Lucy, " June 17, 1791. 

5 David, " Dec. 23, 1793; m. Mary Ann Elder. 



PERKINS, JONATHAN, was b. in Middleton, Mass., in 
1 791. His grandfather is believed to have emigrated 
from England to this town, which latter place was the 
birthplace of his father. This emigrant ancestor had 
twenty-four children, of whom Andrew m. Phebe Eliot, 
grand-daughter of the Rev. Andrew Peters of Middle- 
ton ; and had eleven children. Of these, — 

Jonathan Perkins m., in 1823, , fourth daughter of 

Nathan Wait, Esq., by whom he had six children. 



I POLLY, SAMUEL, and Elizabeth, had — 

I- 2 Samuel, b. Nov. 3, 1714. 

3 Elizabeth, " May 13, 1716. 

4 Ruth, " Feb. 25, 1718. 

5 John, " Aug. 6, 1 719; d. Mar. 15, 1721. 

6 Susanna, " 1721 ; " Apr. 16, 1721. 

7 Sarah, " Mar. 7, 1729. 



I PORTER, JOHN (i), was of Windsor, Conn., in 1638; will 

proved, June, 1649 ' '^"'^ '^'^'^ — 

1- 2 Samuel, m. Hannah Stanley ; was one of the first settlers 

of Hadley, in 1659; and d., 1689, leaving seven children. 

2- 3 Samuel Porter, son of the last, was b. Apr. 6, 1660; 

afterwards judge ; m. Joanna, dau. of Aaron Cook, of 
Hadley. He d. July 29, 1722, aged 62, leaving three 
sons and four daughters. 

3- 4 Rev. Aaron Porter, second son and third child of the 

last, was b. July 19, 1689. Grad. H. C, 1708; and m., in 
1709, Susanna Sewall, sister of the chief justice; and 
had — 

4- 5 Aaron, b. July 9, 17 14; d. young. 

6 Susanna, "Mar. i, 17 16; m., Aug. 4, 1739, Rev. A. Cleve- 

land. 

7 Margaret, " July 18, 171 7. 

8 Joanna, " Mar. 22, 1719; " Jan. i, 1735, Josiah Cleve- 

land. 

He died Jan. 24, 1722, and h.as many descendants through the Clevelands, 
among whom is President Cleveland. 



554 HT STORY OF MED FORD. 

9 Porter, John, came from Enfjland, 1632; of Salem. 1637; 

was made freeman, 1646. Had children, who settled at 
Topsfield and Wenham, from which latter place Deacon 
William Porter removed to Braintree, about 1740; his 
son, Jonathan, removed to Maiden, about 1755; and his 
son, Jonathan, jun., moved thence to Medford, 1773. 
He m. Phebe Abbott of Andover, and had — 

9-10 Jonathan, b. Nov. 13, 1791 ; m. Catharine Gray. 

11 Henry, " Nov. 9,1793; " Susan S. Tidd. 

12 Sarah, " June 7, 1795; d. 1815. 

13 Charlotte, m. Hezekiah Blanchard. 

14 George, b. Aug. 26, 1799; d. voung. 

15 George W., " Jan. 26, 1801 ; m. Elizabeth Hall. 

16 Augusta, m. James T. Woodbury. 

Jonathan Porter d. Nov., 1817. 



I REED, HENRY, b. Jan. 27, 1785 ; m., Aug. 23, iSlo, Han- 

nah S. Greenleaf, who was b. Apr. 5, 1784. He d. Oct. 
13, 1827, and had — 

I- 2 Hannah M., b. June 23, 181 1 ; m. Noah Hathaway. 

3 Susanna E., " Feb. 15, 1813; " N.Johnson. 

4 Martha W., " May 30, 1817; d. July 12, 1817. 

5 Henry F., " June 15, 1818. 

C Isaac R., " Dec. 17, 1820; m. Mary Merrill. 
7 Rebecca G., " Sept. i, 1823. 



I RICHARDSON, JOHN, and Abigail, his wife, had- 

I- 2 Joshua, b. Sept. 22, 17 14. 

3 Abigail, " July 23, 1716. 

4 Susanna, " May 2, 1718. 

5 John, " May 29, 1721. 

6 James, " June 15, 1725. 

7 Joseph, " Aug. 16, 1729. 

8 William Richardson had, by wife Rebecca, — 

8- 9 Mary, b. Apr. 17, 17 17. 



1 ROYALL, WILLIAM, of Casco, 1636, had been sent by 

the governor and company to Capt. Endicott, at Salem, 
1629, as a "cleaver of timber." Part of the town of 
Salem was early called RyalTs Side. He purchased 
of Gorges, 1643, on east side of Royall's River, in North 
Yarmouth, and lived near its mouth. He m. Phebe 
Green, step-dau. of Samuel Cole, of Boston. Children : — 

1- 2 William, b. 1649. 

3 Joli"- 

4 Samuel. 

2 William Royall was driven by the Indians from North 

Yarmouth, and remained at Dorchester some years. 
Freeman, 1678; d. Nov. 7, 1724. Children: — 

2- 5 Isaac, b. 1672. 



• HISTORY OF MED FORD. 555 

6 , a dau., m. Amos Stevens. 

7 Jemima, b. 1692 ; d. Nov. 9, 1709. 

8 Samuel, of Freetown. 

9 Jacob, of Boston. 

And others, whose names are unknown. 

2- 5 Isaac Royall returned in 1757 from Antigua, where he 

had resided 40 years, settled in Medford, and there d. 
June 7, 1739. He m., July i, 1697, Elizabeth, dau. of 
Asaph Eliot, who d. Apr. 21, 1747. His wife seems to 
have m., ist, an Oliver, as Isaac R. mentions a dau.-in- 
law, Ann, wife of Robert Oliver of Antigua. Elizabeth 
R., in her will, mentions gr.-ch.. Dr. James, Thomas, 
Isaac, Richard, and Elizabeth Oliver. Children: — 
5-10 Asaph, b. Apr., 1699; d. July 24, 1699. 

11 Isaac. 

12 Penelope, m. Henry Vassall. 

2- 8 Samuel Royall m. , and had — 

8-13 William. 

14 Samuel Winthrop. 

5-1 1 Col. Isaac Royall, of Medford, m. , and had — 

:i-l5 Elizabeth, b. 1741; d. July 9, 1747. 

16 Miriam, (?) m. Thomas Savel. 

17 Elizabeth, " Sir William Pepperrell. 
\^\ Mary. 

5-12 Penelope Royall m. Henry Vassall, 1741, and had — 

12-18 Elizabeth, m. Dr. Charles Russell, who d. in Antigua, s. p.. 
May 27, 1780. 

11-16 Miriam Royall m. Thomas Savel, Dec. 23, 1773, and 

had — 
l6-l8i Thomas. 

19" Elizabeth, b. Dec. 20, 17S4. 
20 Miriam, " Apr. 19, 1787. 

11-17 Elizabeth Royall m. William Pepperrell Sparhawk, 

whose mother was the only daughter of Sir William 
Pepperrell, and who took his 'grandfather's name on suc- 
ceeding to the estate and title'. He d. Dec, 1816, aged 
70. Children: — 
17-21 William, d. unm., 1809. 

22 Elizabeth Royall, b. July 14, 1770. 

23 Mary Hirst Mcintosh. 

24 Harriot. 

17-22 Elizabeth R. Pepperrell m. Rev. Henry Hutton, who 
d. in 1 813. and had — 

22-25 Elizabeth, m. William Moreton, 1814. 

26 Charles H. 

27 Mary Anne, m. Rev. William Moreton, 1S32. 

28 Henry, " Sophia Brevort. 

29 Anne. 

30 Harriot, " Rev. David Drummond, 1829. 

31 Louise, " Archdeacon Parry. 



556 HISTORY OF MED FORD. ' 

,,.•11- Ti S 1st, Elizabeth , 1S36. 

32 William P, m. | .d, Ellen Porter. 

33 Thomas P., " Mary Drummond. 

34 Frances, d. unm., i84(S. 

17-23 Mary H. McIntosh Pepperrell m. William Congreve, 

July, 1799, and d., s.p., Feb. 4, 1839. 

17-24 Harriot Pepperrell m., 1802, Sir Charles Palmer, who 
d. Apr. 27, 1827. His widow d. Jan. 2, 1842. Children: — 

24-35 Louisa C. 

36 Mary Anne. 

37 Caroline H. 

38 George J., m. Emily Elizabeth Holford, Feb., 1836. 

39 Charles A., m. Julia Simpson, Feb. 27, 1838. 

40 William Henry, b. 1815; d. Sept. 2, 1823. 

Note. — In printing these English branches, I have copied from the Life 
of Sir WiUiam Pepperrell, by Usher Parsons, Esq. 

Robert Royall, perhaps a brother of Isaac (No. 5), was 
living with wife Mercy, in Dorchester, July 20, 1741. 



SAMSON, MILES, m. Sarah Clough, of Medford, July 
9, 181 5, who d. Sept. 5, 1824. They had — 

2 Sarah, b. June i, 1816; m. Philip Putney. 

3 Miles, " Oct. 29, 1817; " ist, E. Paine; 2d, A. 

Weston. 

4 Eden, " May 25,1819; " Mary Ann Tufts. 

5 Elizabeth C, " Aug. 7,1821; " Albert Hadley, of Eden, 

Me. 

He m., 2d, Charlotte Peirce, April 10, 1825, who d. Mar. 
20, 1832 ; and had — 

6 Charlotte, b. Aug. 16, 1825. 

7 Henry, " Sept. 21, 1829; m. Matilda Headley. 

8 Mary, " Sept. 2, 1831; " Henry Jones. 



I SECCOMB, RICHARD, came from the west 01 Eng- 

land ; settled at Lynn as early as 1660; and d. 1694. He 
had — 

I- 2 Noah. 

3 Richard. 

4 Susanna. 

5 Peter, b. 167S. 

I- 3 Richard Seccomb m. Anne , and had — 

3- 6 Jonathan, b. Sept. 17, 1710. 

7 Anne, " Sept. 17, 171 2. 

8 Dorothy, " Jan. 24, 171 5; m. Henry Fowle, Mar. 6, 173S. 

I- 5 Peter Secco.mb m. Hannah Willis, Keb. 25, 1702, who d. 

at Harvard, Dec. 15, 1760. She was b. Jan. i, 1672; and' 
d. Dec. 15, 1760, aged 89. He d. Sept. 8, 1756, aged 78. 
Children : — 
5- 9 John, b. July 30, 1706; d. May 27, 1770. 

10 John, " Apr. 25, 1700; minister at Harvard, Mass., '28. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 557 

11 Charles, b. Jan, 15, 1710; d. Sept. 28, 1730. 

12 Thomas, " Aug. 16, 171 1 ; " Apr. 15, 1773. 

13 Joseph, minister at Kingston, N.H. ; d. 1760. 

14 WiUis, b. Apr. 30, 1704; d. Apr. 15, 1725. 

Joseph Seccomb (13) m. Ruth Brooks, Nov. 20, 1760. 

Rebecca Seccomb, \ J, ^^^'- 1\^ ' 78 1, aged ^. 

' \ She m. 1 homas (No. 12), above. 
Anna Seccomb m. William Patten, Nov. 17, 1727. 
Anne Seccomb " Nathaniel Lawrence, Nov. 13, 1725. 

Note. — Seccombe is the name of a place in the Isle of Purbeck, on the 
coast of Dorsetshire, Eng. 



3- 5 



I SHED, DANIEL, of Braintree, 1647, from whom prob- 

ably descended Ebenezer Shed (i), of Charlestown, who 
d. Apr. 17, 1770, aged 75 ; and m. Abigail Ireland, who d. 
Oct. 8, 1783, aged 83. He had, inter alios, — 

1- 2 Zechariah, b. Feb. 7, 1745; m. Lydia Spring, who was b. 

Jan. II, 1748, and d. Oct. 7, 1821. She was the dau. of 
Henry Spring, jun., and Sarah Swan, his wife (who was 
a dau. of old Lady Winship, who d. Dec. 2, 1807, aged 
loo). Zechariah Shed d, Jan. 15, 1813, leaving — 
2- 3 Francis, b. July 5, 1772. 
4 Thomas," Feb. 7, 1784. 

2- 3 Francis Shed m. Lydia Prentiss Saunders, May 29, 1797, 

who d. Oct. II, 1846, aged 72. He d. Apr. 15, 1851. 
Children : — 

Judiths., b. Sept. ,6,, 798, m. | ^ J/1" ^rjo,.^ 

6 Caroline D., " May ... ,8on "{"^l^i;:^: 

7 Emily Ann, " Sept. 11, 1803; " Aaron Traverse. 

8 Francis, " Nov. 20, 1805; " Mary Ann Frost. 

9 Lydia, " Nov. 21, 1807; " Thomas Marshall. 
ID Zechariah, " Mar. 19, 1810. 

T-i- Ti ^< T 1 o Li S 1st, A. Tucker. 

11 EhzaB., " July 22, 1813; " | ^d, Anthony Nutter. 

12 Matilda O., "Oct. 14,1816; " Charles Danforth. 

2- 4 Thomas Shed m. Abigail H. Greenleaf, Dec. 18, 1808, 
and d. Dec. 9, 1849. ^^ h^*^' children : — 

4-13 Abigail G., b. Nov. 22, 1S09; m. George Sawyer. 

14 Sarah R., " Dec. 8, iSii; " Samuel Ward. 

15 William B., " Oct. 24, 181 3. 

16 Harriet G., " Oct. 26, 1S15. 

17 Helen M., " May29, 1818; " Mathias Miner. 

18 Thomas A., " Nov. 14, 1822. 

19 Franklin K., " May 19, 1825; d. Feb. 22, 1848. 

20 Marshall S., " Mar. 15, 1828; m. Emma A. Gibbs. 

21 Mary A., " May i, 1S31 ; d. May 12, 1832. 

22 Converse Francis, b. Jan. 8, 1S35 ; d. Aug. 13, 1853. 

8 Francis Shed, jun., m. Mary Ann Frost, of Tyngsboro', 

May 23, 1829. She d. June 4, 1S51, aged 42. He m., 2d, 



558 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Mrs. Elizabeth H. Page, dau. of the late Jonathan Tufts. 
Chrldren by ist wife: — 



8-23 


Luther A., 


b. June II, 


1830. 






24 


Mary Jane, 


" Sept. 9, 


1831. 






25 


John F., 


" Oct. II, 


1833- 






26 


Matilda M., 


, " Jan. 22, 


1835; 


d. May i, 


1836. 


27 


Laura M., 


" Feb. 25, 


1837; 


" 1S38. 




28 


Sylvanus, 


" Sept. I, 


1840. 






29 


Jefferson, 


" July I, 


1842. 






30 


Lydia S., 


" Aug. I, 


1844. 






31 


Lucy Ann, 


" Dec. 17, 


1847. 






32 


Albert, 


" Sept. 16, 


1850. 







I SWAN, SAMUEL, was b. 1720; was an only son; his 

father m. Miss Austin, of Charlestown, and d. 1746. 
His ancestors are said to have had large possessions in 
Haverhill and Methuen; and, as lately as 179S, Mr. 
Swan was urged to prosecute his claims by persons of 
respectable standing, one of whom, a public officer, 
desired to purchase a part of his claim. From a deli- 
cate sense of justice, Air. Swan and his oldest son firmly 
refused to entertain the idea. In March, 1746, he m. 
Joanna Richardson, of Woburn, and had children as 
below. His house in Charlestown was burnt by the 
British ; and he went, with his family, to Concord. He 
d. Aug., 1808. Children: — 

1- 2 Samuel, b. 1750. 

3 Daniel, " 1752. 

4 Caleb, " 1754; d. Mar., 1816. 

I- 2 Samuel Swan, jun., m. Hannah Lamson, Mar. 5, 1778, 

who d. Nov., 1826, aged 70. He d. Nov., 1825. In Jan., 
1787, he was appointed quartermaster-general, with the 
rank of major, under Gen. Lincoln, in the time of 
Shay's rebellion. He had previously served under Gen. 
Lincoln in the Revolutionary war; and, for his con- 
duct in this later matter, received the written thanks 
of Gov. Bowdoin. He was afterwards deputy-collector of 
the revenue under Gen. Brooks. His children were : — 

2- 5 Samuel, b. 1779; d. Mar. 31, 1S23. 

6 Daniel, m. Sarah Preston. 

7 Joseph, b. 1784. 

8 Hannah. 

9 Benjamin L. 

ID Timothy, b. 1789; d. Jan. 20, 1830. 
1 1 Caleb. 

!- 3 Daniel Swan m. Elizabeth, dau. of Peter Tufts, Aug. 21, 

1777; and d. in 1780. His widow d. 1853, aged 97. 

Benjamin L. Swan m. Mary Saidler, and had — 

Benjamin L., m. Caroline Post. 

Edward H., " Julia Post. 

Mary, " Charles N. Fearing. 

Robert J., " Margaret Johnson. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 559 

Otis D. 
Frederic. 

Caleb (2-1 1), son of Samuel, m. Harriet Stone. 

3- 5 Samuel Swan m. Margaret Tufts, and had — 

5-12 Benjamin L., m. Sarah Brinkerhoff. 

13 Samuel, " Lucretia Staniels. 

14 James, " Matilda Loring. 

15 Margaret, " William Eveleth. 

16 Hannah L., " George Francis. 

2- 7 Joseph Swan was a merchant, educated in the counting- 

room of Hon. William Gray. He m. Ann Rose ; and d. 
Jan. 1S53, leaving — 
7-17 Joseph, m. Elizabeth Bartlett. 

18 William R., d. 1854. 

19 Ann R., m. Peter C. Hall. 

20 Timothy. 

2- 9 Benjamin L. Swan m. Mary Saidler, and had — 

9-21 Benjamin L., m. Caroline Post. 

22 Edmund H., " Julia Post. 

23 Mary, " Charles N. Fearing. 

24 Otis Dwight, " Margaret Johnson. 

25 Frederic. ^ 

Elizabeth Swan m. Ezra Skinner, Jan. 8, 1724. 
Ruth, wife of William Swan, d. Jan. 6, 1716. 
Thomas Swan, of Roxbury, m. Prudence Wade, Sept. 27, 
1692. 

I SYMMES, ZECHARIAH, was the son of Rev. William 

Symmes, and was b. in Canterbury, Eng., Apr. 5, 1599. 
He came to New England, Sept. 18, 1634; and soon after 
was ordained minister at Charlestown. He had twelve 
children, five of whom were born in Charlestown. He is 
said to have left his large property to his son William, 
on condition that he should pay two hundred pounds 
apiece to the other heirs. This son failing to do this, 
and dying soon after his father, the heirs appointed Rev. 
Zechariah, of Bradford, to divide it. He d. Feb. 4, 1671 ; 
and had, by wife Sarah, — 

I- 2 William, bap. Jan. 10, 1627. 

( 1st, T. Savage, Sept. 15, 

3 Mary, " Apr. 16, 1628 ; m. ^ 1652. 

( 2d, Anthony Stoddard. 

4 Elizabeth, " Jan. 1,1630;" Hezekiah Usher, 1654. 

5 Huldah, " Mar. 18, 1631 ; " William Davis. 

6 Hannah, " Aug. 22, 1632; d. unm. 

7 Rebecca, " Feb. 12, 1634 ; m. Humphrey Booth. 

8 Ruth, " Oct. 18,1635; " Ed. Willis, June 15. 1668. 

9 Zechariah, b. Jan. 9,1638; d. Mar. 22, 1708; min. at 

Bradford. 

10 Timothv, b. Mav 7, 1640; " 1641. 

11 Deborah, " Aug. 28, 1642; m. Timothy Prout, 1664. 



r6o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

T-» qnrnh m 5 '^^' ^^^'- ''Samuel Hough, 1650. 
l_ baran, m- j .j^ Re^. john Brock, 1662. 
13 Timothy, '* Mary Nichols, Dec. 10, 1668. 

c- 2 William Symmes m. Mary ; and d. Sept. 22, 1691. 

He had seven children, of whom the names of five are 
known : viz., — 
2-14 Sarah, m. Rev. M. Fisk, of Braintree, Nov. 7, 1672; d. 
Nov. 2, 1692. 

15 William, Jan. 7, 1679. 

16 Zechariah. 

17 Timothy. 

18 Nathaniel. 

His dau., Sarah, was child of his first wife, as his servant, John Warner, 
testified that his master was a widower when this dau. married. Farmer's 
Register says that Mary, his widow, m. Rev. Samuel Torrey, July 30, 1695; 
and in 1700 she was certainly called Mary Torrey, as I have seen a document 
of that date so signed. 

2-15 William Symmes m. Ruth Convers. He inherited two- 

thirds of his father's estate, and had a clothing-mill 
in what is now Winchester. He d. May 24, 1764. Chil- 
dren : — 
15-19 William, d. young. 

20 Zechariah. 

21 tjosiah, " young. 

22 Elizabeth. 

23 Timothy. 

24 John. 

25 William, minister at Andover. 

15-23 Timothy Symmes m. Martha , and had — 

23-26 Timothy, b. Dec. 23, 1800. 

27 William Wyman, " Aug. 24, 1803. 

15-24 John Symmes m. Miss Dix, of W'altham, and had — 

24-28 Josiah. 

29 John, b. 1754. 

30 Abigail, m. Cutter. 

24-29 John Symmes m. Elizabeth Wright, 1780, and had — 

29-31 John, b. Jan. 27, 1781 ; m. Pamela Richardson, 1804. 



TAINTER, ELISHA L., b. in New Fane, Vt, 1777; m. 
Sarah P. Smith in 1800, who d. 1806, leaving two chil- 
dren : — 

2 Mary Ann, b Aug., 1801. 

3 Albe'rt, " May, .1803. 

He m., 2d, Lydia Fesenden, of Lexington; and d. Sept. 
19, 185 1, leaving, by his second wife, — 

4 Edwin, b. June, 1815. 

5 Adaline, " 181 7. 

6 Emmeline M., " Dec, 1819. 

7 Lvdia A., " Dec, 1821. 

8 Cordelia, " Dec, 1823. 



HISTORY OF MEqFORD. 56 1 

I TUFTS, PETER, was b. in England, in 1617; parents, 

and birthplace unknown. There are. however, persons, 
bearing the name in Lancashire ; and, between Little Bad-- 
dow and Maiden, co. Essex, there is a village called 
Tuftes. Peter Tufts was one of the earliest and largest 
land-owners in our town of Maiden; and it is perhaps a 
fair supposition, that he named his home for his English 
birthplace. He is supposed to have immigrated 1638-40, 
and was admitted a freeman, May 3, 1665, being then an 
inhabitant of Maiden. He bought land in Medford, in 
1664, of Mrs. Nowell, which descended to his son, Capt. 

Peter Tufts. His wife was Mary , who d. 1703, aged 

75. He d. May 13, 1700, aged 83, and lies buried, with 
his wife, in Maiden churchyard. His children were, — 

I- 2 Peter, b. 1648. 

3 Jonathan, " 1657. 

4 John, " 1665. 

5 Mary, m. John Edes. 

6 Elizabeth, "' Joseph Lynde, bro. -in-law of Pet. Tufts, jun. 

7 Mercy, " Joseph VVaite. 

8 Sarah, " Thomas Oakes. 

9 Persis, d. unm., 1683. 
10 Lydia, " " 1683. 

I- 2 Peter Tufts, of Medford, commonly called Capt. Peter, 

m., 1st, Aug. 26, 1670, Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Lynde, 
who d. July 15, 1684, by whom he had — 
2-1 1 Anna, b. Feb. 25, 1676. 

12 Peter, " Jan. 27, 1678. 

13 Mary, " Jan. 30, 1681 ; m. John Brodelins. 

14 Thomas," Mar. 31, 1683; d. Dec. 26, 1733. 

He m., 2d, Mary Cotton, Dec. 16, 1684, who was dau. of 
Rev. Seaborn Cotton, by his wife Dorothy Bradstreet, 
dau. of Gov. Simon Bradstreet by his wife Ann Dud- 
ley, the poetess. Mercy Cotton was b. Nov. 3, 1666, 
and d. June 18, 1715. The issue by this marriage 
was, — 

15 Cotton, b. June 11, 1686; d. July 28, 1686. 

16 Mary, " July 4, 1687 ; " Mar. 8, 1688. 

17 John, " May 5, 1689; minister at Newbury, 1714. 

18 Samuel, " Aug. 22, 1691 ; d. Oct. 20, 1692. 

19 Dorothy, " May 5, 1693; " Sept, 10, 1693. 

20 Mercy, " June 20, 1695; " Aug. 19, 1697. 

21 Dorothy, " Mar. 27, 1697; " Nov. 29, 1697. 

22 Mere}', " Oct. 27, 1698 ; m. John Bradstreet. 

23 Simon, " Jan. 31, 1700. 

24 Sarah, " May 13, 1702. 

25 Dorothy, " Dec. 14, 1704; " Bradshaw. 

26 Lydia, " Jan. 30, 1707. 

He appears, by his will, to have had a third wife, Prudence, who owned a 
house, which was secured to her by the marriage articles. Capt. Peter died 
Sept. 20, 1721, aged 73. He wds a freeman. Oct. 15, 1679. His propert)' in 
Medford, left him by his father, consisted rf seventeen acres of land, five of 
which were at " Snake Hole." He also had six hundred acres in Quabog, or 
Brookfield. 



562 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

I- 3 Jonathan Tufts was of Medford. Will dated Aug. 4, 

1718. He d. in 1720, and was buried in Maiden, beside 
his father. He had, by his wife Rebecca, — 
3-27 Jonathan, b. July i, 1685; d. Dec. 15, 1688. 

28 John, " Apr. 11, 1688. 

29 Jonathan, " Feb. 6, 1690. 

30 Rebecca, " Oct. 16, 1694; m. John Willis, Apr. 17, 1717. 

31 Samuel, " Apr. 29, 1697; " Elizabeth Sweetson, Mar. 

28, 1723. 

32 Persis, " May 2,1700; " J. Codman, Maiden, Feb. 12, 

1737- 

33 Joseph, " June 29, 1704. 

34 Abigail, " Jan. 7, 1707. 

I- 4 John Tufts was of Maiden. His residence was standing 

in 1 82 1 ; and John Tufts, who was then alive, possessed 
a silver-headed cane, — an heirloom, descended from this 
early settler. He m. Mary Putnam; and d. in Maiden, 
1728. His children were three b. in Medford, and four 
in Maiden ; viz., — 
4-35 Mary, b. Apr. 11, 1688. 

36 John, " May 28, 1690. 

37 Nathaniel, " Feb. 23, 1692. 

38 Peter, " 1696 ; of Milk Row. 

39 Benjamin, " 1699. 

40 Thomas. 

41 Stephen. 

2-14 Thomas Tufts graduated, H. C, in 1701. While in col- 

lege, he had forty pounds a year by his grandfather's 
will. He m., ist, Mary Phipps, who d. Sept. 3, 1718, 
aged 48, by whom he had — 
14-42 Thomas, b. Feb. 27, 171 2. 

43 Peter, " Mar. 8, 1714; d. Oct. i, 1714. 

44 Henry, " Sept. 21, 1716. 

He m., 2d, Emma, dau. of Samuel Phipps, of Charles- 
town, and had — 

45 Catharine, b. Nov. 4, 1719. 

46 Samuel, " Dec. 31, 1720. 

47 Simon, " Mar. 17, 1723. 

48 Solomon, '• Jan. 23, 1725. 

49 David. 

50 Frederick. 

2-17 John Tufts m. Elizabeth Sargent, Mar. 28, 1723, and 

had — 
17-51 John, b. Dec. 13, 1723 ; d. Aug. 16, 1725. 

2-23 Simon Tufts was the first physician of Medford ; gradu- 

ated, H. C, 1724; d June 31, 1747. He m. Abigail 
Smith, who d. 1790, aged 90, by whom he had — 
23-52 Simon, b. Jan. 16,1727. 

53 Abigail, " Sept. 22, 1730; m. John Bishop, Dec. 7, 1752. 

54 William, " Aug. 28, 1732. 

55 Cotton, " May 30, 1734. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 563 

56 Samuel, b. Jan. 7,1736. 

57 Mercy, " Oct. 19, 1742; " Thomas Brooks, jun., Dec, 

29, 1762. 

58 Anna, b. Nov. 8,1844; " Peter Jones, May 2, 1765. 

3-33 Joseph Tufts m. Lydia Francis, Jan. 12, 1727, and 
had — 

33-59 Rebecca, b. Mar. 31, 1728. 

60 Lydia, " Aug. 24, 1729. 

61 Joseph, " Feb. 21, 1731. 

62 Samuel, " Aug. 16, 1732. 

63 John, " Nov. 18, 1735. 

64 Ebenezer, " Apr. 14, 1739; d. May 4, 1739. 

4-38 Peter Tufts, of Milk Row, d. Dec. 5, 1776; had be- 

queatlied him, by his father, forty-four acres of land, 
which was bought of Judge Russell in 1701. He m. 
Lydia Buckman, and had by her, who d. Oct. 31, 1778, 
aged 73, — 
38-65 Nathan, b. May 14, 1724. 

66 Peter, " Apr. 24, 1728. 

67 Lydia, " Jan. 5, 1731- 

68 Timothy, " Jan. 20, 1735. 

69 Samuel, " Nov. 24, 1737. 

70 Aaron, " Dec. 16, 1739. 

71 Susanna, " Apr. 23, 1746. 

4-39 Benjamin Tufts m., ist, Mary Hutchinson; and, 2d, 
Hannah Turner. He d. Nov. 17, 1774, leaving — 

39-72 Benjamin, b. Nov. 15, 1731. 

73 Mary, " July 6, 1723; m. John Symonds. 

74 Phebe, m. N. Wait, jun., Oct. 15, 1757. 

75 Sarah, b. June 1 1, 1 737 ; m- Stephen Wait. 

76 John, " Mar. 15, 1739. 

77 Hutchinson, " Jan. 25, 1743. 

By his second wife : — 

78 Francis, b. July 21, 1744; m. Sarah Blount, Nov. 26, 1767. 

79 Hannah, " Dec. 14, 1746; " Watts Turner. 

80 Martha, " Aug. 10, 1753 ; " Thos. Bradshaw, Nov. 26, 

1772. 

81 Abigail, "Mar. 9, 1757; " Daniel Tufts. 

23-52 Dr. Simon Tufts, jun., m., ist, Lucy Dudley, who d. 
Nov., 1768, aged 41. He graduated at H. C, 1767. 
By his first wife he had — 
52-82 Simon, b. I750- 

83 Lucy " Apr. 11, 1752. 

84 Catharine, " Apr. 25, I754- ^ . , , , 

He m., 2d, Elizabeth Hall, Oct. 5, 1769, and had by 
her — 

85 Turell, b. 1770; d. June 9, 1842. 

86 Cotton, " 1772 ; insane; d. Feb. 12, 1835. 

87 Hall " 1775 ; d. at Surinam, July 19, 1801. 

88 Hepsibah, " 1777 ; m. Benjamin Hall. 

89 Stephen, " 1779. 

His widow d. Aug. 30, 1830, aged 87. He d. Dec. 31. 
1786. 



564 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

23-54 WiixiAM Tufts m. , and had — 

54-90 Catharine, b. 1754. 

23-55 Cotton Tufts m. Smith, sister-in-law of President 

John Adams; was grad., H. C, 1749, A.S.S. ; hved in 
Weymouth; Pres. of Mass. Medical Ass. about 1776. 
His" funeral sermon, preached by Jacob Norton, is 
extant. He had an only child, — 
55-91 Cotton. 

23-56 Samuel Tufts, who d. Dec. 31, 1818, m. Hannah Tufts, 

Apr. 14, 1757, who d. Mar. 13, 1795, aged 60 years ; and 
had — 
56-92 Susanna, b. May 30, 1759. 

93 Samuel, " Apr. — , 1761. 

94 Caleb, " Sept. i, 1762. 

95 Ezekiel, '• Nov. 19, 1764. 

96 Gershom, " July 17, 1767. 

97 John, " June 8, 1772. 

33-61 Joseph Tufts, who d. Dec. 6, 1798, m. Hannah , 

who d. Sept. 21, 1779, aged 45 ; and had — 
61-98 Joseph, b. Feb. 17, 1755- 

99 Ammi-Ruhamah, b. Aug. 18, 1762. 
100 Walter, b. Feb. 17, 1766. 
loi Cotton, " June 1768; d. July 15, 1777. 

38-65 Nathan Tufts m. Mary Adams, June 6, 1751. He 

lived at Charlestown, where he d. Dec. 21, 1771. 
He had — 
65-102 Susanna, b. Jan. 31, 1756; m. John Foster, 

103 Mary, " Mar. 17, 1758; " Seth Stone. 
103^ Abigail, " Jan. 20, 1760; d. 1777. 

104 'Daniel, " '757- 

105 Amos, " July 30, 1762. 

106 Nathan, " Mar. 23, 1764. 

There was an earlier son, Nathan, who d. Aug. 5, 1762; and perhaps 
another child, who d. young. 

38-66 Peter Tufts was of Charlestown. He m. Anne 

Adams, Apr. 19, 1750; and d. Mar. 4, 1791. His wife 
was b. July 8, 1729; and d. Feb. 17, 181 3. They 
had — 
66-107 Peter. 

108 John, m. Elizabeth Perry. 

109 Asa " Martha Adams. 
no Joseph, " Abigail Tufts. 

1 1 1 Thomas, " Rebecca Adams. 

112 Elizabeth, " Daniel Swan. 

113 Lucy, " Jacob Osgood. 

114 Rebecca, " Nathan Adams. 

115 Lydia, " Rev. R. Gray of Dover, N.H., Mar. 22,1787. 

116 Sarah, " Joseph Adams. 

38-68 Timothy Tufts m. Anna , and had — 

68-117 Timothy. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 565 

118 Abijah, b. Apr. 17, 1766; grad., H.C., 1815; moved to 

Virginia. 

119 Anna " May 26, 1768 ; m. Mr. Dixon. 

120 Isaac. 

121 Joseph, m. Miss Twiss. 

'8-69 Samuel Tufts m. Martha Adams, May 11, 1769. He 

'' d. Oct. 24, 182S. She d. Aug. 28, i8ii,aged 65. 

Children : — 
69-122 Samuel, b. May 27, 1770; d. June 27, 1822. 

123 Martha, " Sept 28, 1773 : m. Walter Frost, June 21, 

1792. 

124 Lydia, " May 24, 1778; " JohnTapley, Nov. 3, 1795. 

125 Susan, '-Dec 8, 1 780 ; " Jotham Johnson, Nov. 4, 

1802. 

126 Mary, " Nov. 25, 1782; "Ambrose Cole, Apr. i, 

1804. 

127 Elizabeth, " June 27, 1788; " Reuben Hunt. 

39-72 Benjamin Tufts m. Esther , who d. May 27, 1778, 

aged 37. He d. 1804, and had — 
72-128 Benjamin, b. Oct. 9, 1761. 

129 Esther, " May 30, 1763; m. Hezekiah Blanchard. 

130 Jacob. 

130^ Mary " 1779". d. f. I795- 

2S-76 John Tufts m. , and had — 

76-131 John. 

132 Peter, d. unm. 

39-77 Hutchinson Tufts, who d. Aug. 2, 1800, m. Mary 

Grover, and had — 
77-133 Hutchinson, b. Dec. 16, 1769. 
134 Mary, m. Jonathan Locke. 

39-77 Francis Tufts m., successively, two sisters named 
Lunt, and had — 

78-135 Francis, moved to Maine. 

136 John. 

137 Benjamin, moved to Ohio. 

138 William. 

139 Mary, m. Mr. Hopkinson. 

55-91 Cotton Tufts, of Weymouth, m. Mercy Brooks, Mar. 

6, 17S8, and had — 
91-140 Ouincy, was a merchant in Boston. 

141 Lucy, m. Thomas Tarbell. 

142 Susan. 

143 Mercy. 

65-104 Daniel Tufts m. Abigail Tufts, and had — 

104-144 Daniel, b. Dec. 31, 1776- 

145 Gilbert, " Apr. 27, 177S. 

146 Charles, " 1781. 

147 Nathan, " Mar. — 1786. 



566 



HISTORY OF AT ED FORD. 



65-105 
105-148 
149 
150 

151 
152 

153 

154 
ISS 
156 

157 

66-108 
108-158 

'59 
160 
161 
162 
163 
164 
165 
166 
167 

66-109 
109-168 
169 
170 

66-110 
110-171 
172 
173 
174 
175 
176 
177 
178 
179 
180 
181 

66-11 t 
111-182 

183 
184 
185 
186 

68-117 

1 1 7-187 
188 
189 

190 



Amos Tufts m. Deborah Frothingham, and had — 

Amos, d., aged 14. 

Deborah, b. 1789; m. Mr. Frothingham. 

Joseph F., " 1790 ; d. 1854. 

Mary, " 1793; m. James P. Mclntyre. 

Abigail, d., aged 12. 

Nathan Adams, b. 1 797. 

Amos. 

William. 

Samuel. 

Edward. 

John Tufts m. Elizabeth Perry, and had — 

John, m. Abigail Wheeler. 

Benjamin, " Susan Stone. 

James, d. unm. 

Elizabeth, " " 

Cynthia, 

Sophia, 

Lydia, 

Leonard, 

Asa, 

Oliver, 



" aged 6. 

m. David Sanborn. 
" Hepzibah Fosdick. 
" Dorothy Danforth. 
b. 1801 ; m. widow of his brother Asa. 



Asa Tufts m. Martha Adams, and had - 
Anna Louisa, m. Theodore Atkinson. 
Charles, d. unm. 

Asa Alford, m. Miss Oilman. 

Joseph Tufts m. Abigail Tufts, and had- 



Abigail. 

Joseph, 

Lydia, 

Bernard, 

Asa, 

Lucy, 

Mary, 

Edmund, 

Mercy, 

Harriet, 

Caroline, 



1785. 

17S3 ; m. Helen Whittemore. 

1786; d. 1808. 

1788; m. Lucinda Tufts. 

1790; m. Mary Ann Tufts. 

" Gersiiom Whittemore. 

d. 1820. 



1792; 

1793: 

1795- 

1797 

1799 

1801 : 



" 1820. 

m. James Russell. 

" Gershom Whittemore. 



Thomas Tufts m. Rebecca Adams, and had — 
Thomas, d. 1816, aged c. 24. 

Rebecca, " " " 30. 

Marshall, graduate, H.C., 1827. 
Eveline, m. Mr. Rochester, of Ohio. 
Lucy Ann, " Dr. Proctor, of Castine, Me. 

Timothy Tufts m., ist, Mary Goddard, 2d, Mehitable 

Flagg ; and had — 
Timothy, b. 1786; m. Susan Cutter. 
Artemas, d. unm. 
Mary, m. Milzar Torrey, and d. 1853. 

And by his second wife — 
Jonas, lived in Charlestown, N.H. 



HISTORY OF MEDFORD. 567 

191 Joshua, unm., lived in Charlestown, N.H. 

192 Submit, m. Mr. Wetherbee. 

68-120 Isaac Tufts m., ist, Anna Tufts, and had by her — 

120-193 Anna, m. Samuel Rand. 

194 Martha. 

And by his second wife, Mary Green, — 

195 Lucy. 

196 Mary. 

197 Louisa. 

198 Isaac. 

199 Ann Maria, m. James Sawyer. 

200 Timothy. 

201 George. 

69-122 Samuel Tufts m., ist, Hannah Tufts, Dec. 3, 1795, and 
had — 

122-202 Hannah, d., aged 17. 

203 Lucinda, m. Bernard Tufts (No. 174). 

204 Mary Ann, m. Asa Tufts (No. 175). 

205 Charles, unm. 

He m., 2d, Grace Barnicott, and had — 

r inr-ii- A 4. ^ 1st, Abigail Tufts. 

206 W.lham Augustus, m. | ,_^l^^^^^ ^ufts. 

207 John. 

208 Hannah, m. Mr. Davis of Billerica. 

77~I33 Hutchinson Tufts, jun., m. Mary , and had — 

133-209 Hutchinson, b. Feb. 10, 1797. 

210 Mary, ''Mar. 6, 1 799 ; d., aged four days. 

104-144 Daniel Tufts, jun., who d. June 12, 1826, m. Rhoda 
Wyman, May 25, 1786, who d. March 17, 1816; and 
had — 

144-21 1 Cornelius, b. Aug. 12, 1786. 

212 Rhoda, " Aug. 27, 1788. 

213 Ruth, " Dec. II, 1790. 

214 Tryphena " Feb. 6, 1793. 

215 Pamela Wyman, " Mar. 23, 1796. 

216 Lucy, " Aug. 28, 1799. 

104-145 Gilbert Tufts m. Mary Chickering, and had — 

145-217 Abbv, m. Fred. Williams. 

218 Gilbert, " Charlotte Fitz. 

219 Caroline, b. 1822 ; m. Dr. J. E. Bartlett ; and d. 185 1. 

220 Sarah Scholfield. 

221 Arthur Webster, m. Anna Hooker. 

104-147 Nathan Tufts m. Sarah Miller, and had — 

147-222 Sarah Elizabeth, b. 181 1 ; m. Andrew B. Kidder. 

223 Mary Tapley, "1813; d. 1833. 

224 Martha " 181 5. 

225 Nathan, " 1818; m. ALary Jane Fitz. 

226 Marcellus, " 1820; d. 1822. 

227 Hannah Johnson, " 1822-, m. Dr. Chauncey Booth. 

228 Daniel, " " 1825: d. 1S25. 

229 Francis, " " 1827 ; grad., H.C., 1849. 



568 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

1 10-172 Joseph Tufts m. Helen Whittemore, and had — 

172-230 Josepli Binford, grad., H.C., 1849. 

231 Helen Emily, m. Theodore Buckman. 

232 William Whittemore, b. 1S30. 

233 Benjamin, " 1833; d. young. 

110-174 Bernard Tufts m. Lucinda Tufts (No. 203), and 

had — 
174-234 Joseph Bernard, lived in Billerica. 

235 Edmund. 

236 Alfred, b. c. 1837. 

110-175 Asa Tufts m. Mary Ann Tufts (No. 204), and had — 

175-237 Harriett, m. Mr. Holbrook. 

238 Mary Ann. 

239 Elizabeth. 

240 Caroline. 

241 Lucy. 

242 Mercy. 

243 Abby. 

244 Henry Clay. 

245 Alice. 

The following branches 1 have not been able to locate authoritatively; but those marked with 
(Bj rest upon the decisions of Dr. Boothe, whose large collection of genealogical matters 
relating to this family has been a very great aid to me. 

246 James Tufts is said (B) to have been a son of Peter 

(No. 1); m. Mary Dill, Sept. 4, 1729. He is supposed 
to have been killed by the Indians, as an old family 
tradition reports. He had — 

246-247 James Tufts, who m., ist, Phebe Woods, of Groton, 
and had — 

a. Andrew, b. Oct. 11, 1748; d. Oct. 25, 1752. 

b. Nathaniel, '• 1746; d. March 20, 1752. 

From him may have been descended — 

248 James Tufts, jun., who m. Tabitha Binford, Apr. 19, 

1757, who d. Oct. 25, 1766, aged 67. Children : — 

248-249 Mary, b. Nov. 21, 1752. 

250 Abigail,'" Jan. 5, 1758. 

251 Daniel, " Mar. 30, 1759. 

252 Abigail," July 24, 1761. 

253 Mercy, " Sept. 21, 1765. 

He d. June 12, 1769, aged 67. 

Peter Tufts (No. 2) is said to have had (B) two chil- 
dren besides those previously recorded : — 
2-254 Samuel, b. 1709. 
255 William, " 1713. 

2-254 Samuel Tufts m. , and had — 

254-256 Anna, b. 1 744. 

2-255 William Tufts m., 1st, Catherine Wyman, who d. 

1 749, and had — 
-Zl--'j(^i Catharine, b. Mar. 31, 1734. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 569 

257 William, b. Mar. 27, 1736. 

258 George, " Jan. 10, 1747. 

259 Grimes, " Dec. 4, 1748. 
259I Uriah. 

He m., 2cl, Mary Francis, Feb. 8, 1750, and had — 

260 Mary, b. Apr. 25, 175 1. 

261 Samuel, '* Aug. 19, 1752. 

262 Lucy, " Apr. 21, 1754; m. Thomas Pritchard. 
2621^ Francis, m. Francis. 

263 David, b. June 30, 1758. 

264 Sarah, '• Jan. 14, 1760. 

265 David, " June 17, 1763. 

266 Richard," Nov., 1765. 
266«. Moses. 

226^. Aaron. 

He d. Oct. 29, 1783. 



255-267 


Samuel Tufts m. Margaret Hodgkins, who d. Aug. 7, 




1793. He d. Nov. 20, 181 5, and had — 




267^. 


Margaret, b. 1779; m. Samuel Swan, jun. 




b. 


Samuel, " 1784: d. l82J. 




c. 


William, " Mar. 21, 1787. 




zSyd. 


John Tufts m. Sarah , and had — 




267flr.-268 


William, b. Sept. 4, 1727. 




269 


John, " Mar. 29, 1729. 




270 


Ichabod, " May 16, 1731. 




271 


Ebenezer, " Nov. 9, 1733. 




272 


Sarah, " May 4, 1736; d. June 25, 1738. 




273 


James, "Nov. 3,1738;" Aug. 12, 1739. 




274 


Sarah, " Aug. 12, 1740. 




275 


Barnaby, " Feb. 12, 1743. 




276 


Ichabod Tufts m. Rebecca Francis, May 17, 1753 
had — 


, and 


276-276^. 


John. 




b. 


Samuel. 




c. 


Rebecca. 




Tjdd. 


Ebenezer Tufts m. Rachel Whittemore, Feb. 17, 
and had — 


•731. 


276^.-276^. 


Rachel, b. Mar. 21, 1732. 




276/ 


William Tufts, jun., m. Catharine Tufts, Jan. 10, 
He had — 


1750. 


276/-277 


Ebenezer, b. July 20, 1753 ; d. Sept. 30, 1760. 




278 


Eunice, " Oct. 2, 1755. 




279 


Zachariah, " Dec. 15, 1759. 




280 


Ebenezer, " Apr. 19, 1 761. 




281 


William, " Aug. 24, 1762. 




282 


Eliakim, " Sept. 4, 1767. 




283 


William Tufts, 3d, m. Rebecca Tufts, Feb. 15, 
and d. Oct. 24, 1775. He had — 


753; 


283-284 


Rebecca, b. July i, 1754; m. Manning. 




285 


William, " May 20, 1756; d. young. 





570 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

286 William, " Jan. 11, 1758. 
286.^ Abigail, " May 9, 1760. 

287 Lucy, " Nov. 19, 1762; d. Aug. 28, 1767. 

288 Lydia, " June 25, 1765. 

289 John, " Apr. 2, 1768. 

290 William Tufts, 4th, m. Susanna . He died Apr. 

27, 1782, leaving, — 

290-291 Nathan, b. May 16, 1754. 

292 Susanna," Mar. 28, 1756. 

293 Elinor, " July 20, 1759. 

294 Abigail, " May 8, 1760. 

295 Aaron, " Dec. 18, 1761. 

296 William, " Aug. 20, 1764. 

297 James Tufts m. Phebe , and had — 

297-298 Nathan, b. May 2, 1740. 

299 Andrew, '• Oct, 9, 1748. 

300 Gershom Tufts m. Mary , and had — 

300-301 Gershom, b. Oct. 2, 1754. 

302 Susanna, '■ Dec. 9, 1756. 

303 Richard, " Sept 25, 1758. 

304 Peter Tufts (possibly 38) m. Deborah , and 

had — 

304-305 Moses, > K A 

306 Aaron, f b. Apr. 20, 1 721. 

307 Abigail, " Oct. 6, 1723. 

308 Aaron, " July 12, 1726. 

309 Ebenezer Tufts (probably No. 267) m. Abigail , 

and had — 

309-310 Ebenezer, b. Dec. 16, 1761. 

311 Sarah, " June I, 1765. 

312 Ruth, '• Dec. 30, 1766. 

313 Jonathan Tufts m. Elizabeth , and had — 

313-314 Jonathan, b. May 6, 1764. 

315 Eleazer, " Sept. 28, 1767. 

316 Charles, " May 3, 1770. 

317 Amos, " Dec. 12, 1784. 

318 Isaac Tufts m. Martha , and had — 

318-319 Martha, b. Apr. 20, 1770. 

320 Isaac, " Dec. 14, 1771. 

321 Lydia Hall, " Aug. 28, 1773. 

322 Seth, " Sept. 14, 1774. 

323 Lydia Hall, " July 9, 1778. 

324 Moses Tufts m. Phebe Thompson, May 7, 1767, and 

had — 

324-325 Moses, b. June 8,1771. 

326 Catharine, '* July 17, 1775. 

327 Rhoda, d. Sept. 14, 1773. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 571 

328 Jacob Tufts m. Ruth Binford, May 27, 1790, and 

had — 
328-329 Jacob, b. Mar. 5, 1791. 

330 Andrew, " Feb. 21, 1794. 

331 Esther, " Sept. 7, 1796. 

332 Thomas," Sept. 29, 1799. 

333 Ben7.\min Tufts m. Elizabeth , and had — 

333-334 Elizabeth, b. Feb. 21, 1780. 

335 Ben'JAMIn Tufts, jun., m. Hannah Turner, May 17, 

1 796, and had — 

335-336 Benjamin, b. Apr. 9, I797- 

337 Hannah, " May 26, 1801. 

338 Richard, " Mar, 5, 1804. 

339 Emily, " Apr. 16, 1806. 

340 Andrew, " Oct. 14, 1808. 

341 Nathan Tufts, jun., m. Sarah Trefray, Feb. 22, 1776, 

and had — 
341-342 Sarah, b. Apr. 9, 1780. 

343 Nathan, " Jan. 19, 1784. 

344 Elizabeth, " May 20, 1785. 

Same as No. 291. 

345 Joseph Tufts m. Esther , and had — 

345-346 Joseph, b. Jan. 24, 1781. 

347 Esther, " Nov.2t,i782. 

345 Rebecca, " Feb. 6, 1785. 

349 Lucy, " July 20, 1787. 

350 Cotton, " FelD. i, 1790. 

351 George Tufts m. Elizabeth , and had — 

351-352 Elizabeth, b. Sept. 14, 1776. 

353 John, " Oct. 30, 1778. 

354 Call, " Oct. 30, 1781. 

355 James Tufts, jun., m. Elizabeth , and had — 

355-356 Mary, b. Sept. 18, 1775. 

25, 1777. 

5, '779- 
14, 1780. 

9, 17S2. 

I, 17S5. 
30, 1787. 

. Martha Bradshaw, and had — 
144-363 Martha, m. Thatcher Magoun. 

364 Abby, " Dr. John Neilson. 

This family differs from the one previously inserted from my own MSS., 
and is here given on the authority of Dr. Booth. It is probably correct. 

365 Mary, dau. of Hannah Tufts, b. May 2, 1759. 

366 , a son " " " " Jan. 6,1761. 

367 Elizabeth, dau. of Phebe Tufts, b. Jan. 2, 1760; d. July 
23, 1760. 



357 
358 
359 


James, " Feb. 
Elizabeth, " Jan. 
Lucretia, " Oct. 


360 
361 
362 


Mercy, " Aug 
Sarah, " Aug 
Elias, " Jan. 


104-144 


Daniel Tufts n 



572 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



368 James Tufts m. Ruth , who d. Nov. 26, 1721, aged 

39 ; and had — 
368-369 Susanna, b. ,1716; d. July 8,1739. 

370 Grimes, " Jan., 172 1 ; " Nov. 28, 1721. 

371 Ruth, " ,1730; " Apr. 27, 1735. 

He was probably father of William (255), and same as James (247). 



Afarriages and deaths not previously recorded. 



Feb. 26, 1729. 
Feb. 17, 1 73 1. 
Feb. 17, 1732. 
May 18, 1767. 
Nov. I, 1770. 
May 14, 177?. 
Dec. 17, 1772. 
Mar., 1774- 
Dec. 21, 1775. 
Mar. 26, 1776. 
Nov. 14, 1776. 
Aug. 21, 1777. 
Nov. 3, 1777. 
Nov. 20, 1777. 
Nov. 25, 1777. 
Feb. 5, 1778. 
May 19, 1778. 
May II, 1779. 
Nov. 24, 1779. 
May 23, 1 78 1. 
Mar. 31, 1783. 
Sept. 30, 1784. 
Dec. 16, 1784. 
Jan. 13, 17S5. 
June 12, 1785. 
Mar. 9, 1786. 

22, 1789. 

27, 1790. 
9, 1792. 

6, 1793- 
Nov. 10, 1793. 
July 12, 1795. 
Oct. 4, 1795. 
Jan. 8, 1797. 
Apr. 26, 1798. 
Nov. 16, 1797. 
Apr. 23, 1799. 
May 19, 1730. 
Sept. I, 1730. 
Nov. 18, 1 741. 
Nov. 12, 1743. 
Oct. I, 1765. 
June 20, 1 788. 
Dec. 6, 1788. 
Jan. 12, 1779. 



Jan. 

July 
July 
Jan. 



Elizal)eth Tufts, m. John Foskit. 

Elizabeth " ." Jonathan Hall. 

Ebenezer " " Rachel Whitmore. 

Ruth " " Thomas Binford. 

Lydia " " Daniel Wisvvall of Camb'ge. 

Hannah " " Watts Turner. 

Mercy " " Isaac Greenleaf. 

Rebecca " " Thomas Manning. 

Anna " " Abel Richardson. 

Eunice " " Joseph Trask of Boston. 

Rebecca " " Aaron Blanchard. 

Elizabeth " " Daniel Swan. 

Mary " " Daniel Collins of Gloucester, 

Lucy " " Benjamin Hall, jun. 

Mary " " Richard Clark of Watertown. 

Eleanor " " Isaac Green of Lexington. 

John " " Elizabeth Perry of Camb'ge. 

'Benjamin " " Lydia Francis. 

Abigail " " Joshua Symonds, jun. 

Sarah " " Asa Richardson of Billerica. 

Abigail " " Joseph Tufts of Charlestown. 

Rebecca " " /ohn Blanchard. 

Esther " " Hezekiah Blanchard, jun. 

Jonathan " " Deborah Bucknam. 

Francis " " Hannah Greenleaf. 

Elizabeth " " Edmund T. Gates. 

Nathan, jun. " " Mary Thompson. 

Elizabeth " " David Parker of Cambridge. 

Joseph, jun. " " Sarah Turner. 

Lydia " " John Albree of Salem. 

Simon " " Susanna Hickling Cox. 

Mrs. Elizabeth " " Duncan Ingraham, Concord. 

Mary " " Benjamin Reed. 

Joseph, jun. " " Nancy Bucknam. 

Lydia Hall " " Isaac Floyd. 

Isaac " " Ann Tufts. 

Nathan, jun. " " Mary Gilbert of Charlest'n. 

Hannah Tufts m. Solomon Hancock of Charlestown. 

James Tufts, of Charlestown, m. Mary Dill. 

Jonathan Tufts, of Charlestown, m. Sarah Tompson. 

Benjamin Tufts m. Hannah Johnson of Woburn. 

Sarah, widow of Jonathan Tufts, d. 

Mrs. Lydia " " 

Mr. Joseph " " 

Mrs. Rebecca " " 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



573 



Sept. 19, 
Mar. 16, 
June 12, 
Sept. 26, 
Nov. 5, 
Sept. 10, 
Nov. 3, 
May 4, 
Aug. 12, 
July 19, 
Aug. 12, 
Jan. 24, 
Sept. 26, 
Dec. 6, 
Dec. 21, 
Dec. 23, 
June 22, 
Jan. 26, 
Jan. 2, 
June 12, 
Dec. 21, 
Jan. I, 
Nov. 26, 
Nov. 2, 
July 17, 
June 25, 
May 18, 
Jan. 26, 
Mar. 24, 
Dec. 26, 
Sept. 3, 
Sept. 19, 



Dec. 21, 1771. 
Jan. 4, 1782. 
Apr. 30, 1779. 
Mar. 16, 1806. 
Nov. 5, i786> 



1 779. , widow of Joseph Tufts, d. 

1773. Ruth " " 

1784. Nathan " " 

1784. Jonathan " " 

1786. James " 

1787. Eleazer " " 

1788. Isaac " " 
1849. Isaac " " 
1835. Jacob I' '' 
1733- James " 
1739. J^mes, s. of John and Sarah Tufts, 
1750. Jonathan 

1784. Jonathan " 

1778. Joseph 

1758. Joseph " 

1753. Lydia, wife of James " 

1778. Lydia, wife of Joseph " 

1743. Alary, wife of Benjamin " 

1749. Nathan 

1784. Nathan " 

1771. Nathaniel 

1770. Rhoda, d. of M. and Phebe " 
1 72 1. Ruth, wife of James " 

1721. Sarah, d. of James and Ruth " 
1742. Sarah, " of John and Sarah " 
1738. Sarah, " 

1747. Sarah, wife of John " 

1750. Seth, s. of Jona. and Han. " 
1843. Sarah " 
1733. Thomas 

1748. Tabitha,d.of Jona. and Han. " 
1736. William Henry " 

Catharine, wife of William " 

Daniel 

Nathaniel 

William 

Mary 

Tabitha wife of James T. " 

T " 

James 



aged 


20. 




17- 




44. 




44. 




59- 




9 months 




60 years. 




45- 




47- 




54- 




SO. 




75- 




34- 




60. 




44. 




48. 




14 days. 




40 years. 




3- 




17- 









38." 




3- 




78. 




51- 




24. 




44. 




32. 




69. 




48. 




24. 




57- 




82. 




62. 



TURELL DANIEL, the ancestor of the Medford line, 
came from Instow, co. Devon, a place between Barn- 
stable and Bideford ; was a captain at Boston, 1683 ; and 

d. Jan. 23, 1699. He m. Lydia , who d 1658 ; when 

hem. Mary, widow of John Barrell, and dau. of Elder 
William Colburn ; and had — 



I- 2 
3 
4 
5 
6 

7 



Daniel, b. June 

Joseph, " Dec. 

Samuel, " June 
Lvdia, " Nov. 

Cblbourne, " Dec. 
Sarah, ) « q.^. 
Elizabeth, ) 
Benjamin, " June 



16, 1646. 

27, 1653. 

14, 1659. 

30, 1660. 

4, 1662. 



14' 
24, 



1663. 
1665. 



574 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

William Turell of Boston is thought to have been 
the brother of the above-mentioned Daniel ; and, as 
"Farmer's Register" countenances the supposition, I 

insert the record of his children. He m. Rebecca , 

and had — 

Rebecca, b. Dec. 26, 1655. 

William, " Mar. 16, 1657. 

I- 2 Daniel Turell, jun., m. Anne , and had — 

2-10 Mary, b. Apr. 4, 1672. 

11 Anna, " Mar. 31, 1674. 

12 Lydia, " Jan. 17, 1678. 

13 John, " Apr. 18, 1693. 

14 Humphrey, " Sept. 22, 1696. 

I- 3 Joseph Turell m. Sarah , who d., perhaps, Jan. 15, 

1 728, aged 68 ; and had — 
3-15 Sarah, b. Oct. 31, 1679. 

16 Humphrey, " May 21, 1681. 

I- 4 Samuel Turell m. Lydia, dau. of Anthony Stoddard, 
and had — 
4-16^ Mary, m. Whittemore, and had Daniel and Samuel. 

17 John, b. July 3, 1687. 

18 Christian, " Dec. 17, 1688; m. Samuel Bass.. 
i8| Lydia, " Cornelius Thayer. 

19 Ebenezer, " Feb. 5, 1702. 

4-19 Ebenezer Turell, the minister, grad. i 721 ; studied with 

Rev. Benjamin Colman ; settled at M., 1724, where he 
d., Dec. 8, 1778. He m., ist, Jane Colman, Aug. 11, 
1726, who d. Mar. 26, 1735; when he m., 2d., Oct. 23, 
1735, Lucy, dau. of Addington Davenport, who d. May 
17, 1759, aged 45. He m., 3d, Aug. 21, 1760, Jane, d. of 
Wm. Pepperell of Kittery (who had m. twice before ; 
viz., 1st, Benjamin Clark; and, 2d, Wm. Tyler), who d. 
Feb. 6, 1765. He had issue only by his first wife ; viz., — 
19-20 Samuel, b. Feb. 2, 1729; d. Oct. 8, 1736. 

20^ Clark-Thomas, bapt. Aug. 18, 1728; d. young. 
And two children who d. infants. 

4-18 Christian Turell m., ist, Samuel Bass; 2d, John Arm- 

strong. 

21 Joseph Turell, who is supposed to have been a cousin 

of Rev. Ebenezer T., m., ist, a dau. of John Avis, and 
had — 

21-22 Joseph, b. 1750. 

53 Elizabeth, " 1755; m. Noyes. 

24 Samuel, " 1757. 

He m., 2d, Mary Morey of Roxbury, and had : — 

25 A dau., m. Ed. Gray; ch. were Mrs. Fales, Edward Gray, 

John Gray, and the late F. T. Gray. 

21-22 Joseph Turell, jun., m. , and had two sons, 

Charles and John; of whom Charles had several chil- 
dren, one of whom, Garland, is a resident of Boston. 



1 



J 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 575 

1 USHER, HEZEKIAH, was a prominent merchant of 

Boston, and in his will, dated March ii, 1676, mentions 
children : — 

1- 2 Hezekiah, b. June, 1639. 

3 Elizabeth, m. Hezekiah Browne. 

4 John, b. Apr. 27, 1648. 

5 Hannah, m. Peter Butler. 

6 Sarah, " Jonathan Tyng. 

His second wife, Elizabeth, was dau. of Rev. Zachary 
Symmes, by whom he had — 

7 Zachariah, b. Dec. 26, 1654. 

He m., 3d, Mary (Butler?). 
His brothers and sisters were : — 

8 Samuel, wiio never came to this country, 

9 Robert, of Connecticut. 

ID Elizabeth, m. John Harwood of London. 

11 , " Robert Rolph of Twitts, Eng. 

12 , " Robert Alfery of Mayfield, Eng. 

9 Robert Usher was of Stamford, Conn., and had — 

9-13 Robert. 
14 Elizabeth. 

I- 2 Hezekiah Usher m. Bridget Hoar, widow of Dr. Leon- 

ard Hoar, third pres. H. C, who d. Nov. 28, 1675. He 
d. July II, 1697, without issue. 

I- 4 John Usher m., ist, Elizabeth, dau. of Peter Slidgett, and 

had by her — 
4-15 Elizabeth, b. June 18, 1669; m. D.Jeffries, Sept. 15, 1686, 
and d. June 27, 1698. 

16 Jane, b. March 2, 1678. 

He m., 2d, Elizabeth Allen, and had : — 

17 John, b. 1699. 

18 Frances, m. Joseph Parsons. 

19 Hezekiah. 

20 Elizabeth, " Stephen Harris. 

He was a mandamus councillor, and lieut.-governor of 
New Hampshire. He moved to Medford, and d. there 
Sept. 5, 1-726. 

9-13 Robert Usher was of Dunstable. He m. , and 

had — 
13-21 John, b. May 31, 1696. 

22 Robert, "June — , 1700; killed in "Lovewell's Fight." 

4-17 John Usher, jun., H. C. 1719, was a minister, and d. April 

30, 1775, leaving a son, — 
17-23 John, b. 1723 ; d.'july, 1804, minister at Bristol. 

13-24 John Usher, of Dunstable, m. , and had — 

24-24 John, b. May 2, 1728. 

25 Robert, " Apr. 9, 1730. 

26 Rachel, " 1732. 

27 Habijah, " Aug. 8, 1734 ; m , who d. Oct. 19, 1791. 



576 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

[7-25 Robert Usher m. , and moved to Medford, 

where he d. Oct. 13, 1793. He had — 
25-28 Eleazer, b. 1770. 

25-28 Eleazer Usher, of Medford, m. Fanny Bucknam, who 
d. Dec. 23, 1848. He d. Apr. 9, 1852. Children: — 

28-29 John G., b. Sept. 5, 1800; d. Feb. 28, 1859. 

30 Sarah B., m. John Wade. 

31 Fanny, " ist, W. Grifiin ; 2d, W. Smith. 

32 Mary Ann, " ist, Fr.Wade; 2d, A. Hulin ; d. Mar. 29, 1883. 

33 Lydia C, " Arley Plummer. 

34 Nancy A., " Charles Philbrick; d. Dec. 14, 1842. 

35 Eleazer, b. Aug. 25, 1810; d. Jan. 4, 1881. 

36 James M., " Nov. 12, 1814. 

37 Leonard B., " Mar. 3, 181 7. 

38 Henry W., " Nov., 1819; " Nov. 26, 1879. 

39 Roland G., " Jan. 6, 1823. 

28-29 John G. Usher m. Mary C. George of Haverhill, who 

was b. Mar. 21, 1803, and has — 
29-40 Helen I\I., b. Mar. 17, 1828. 

28-35 Eleazer Usher m. Jane K. Hartwell, Apr. 6, 1840 (b. 
Sept. 10, 1820; d. Aug. 16, 1880). Children: — 

35-41 Charles N., b. Sept. 20, 1841. 

42 George H., " Jan. 25, 1844. 

43 Pamelia A., " Sept. 17, 1846; d. Nov. 9, 1848. 

44 Warren H., " Aug. 18, 1848. 

45 John G., " Aug. 27, 1853. 

28-36 James M. Usher m. Pamelia Pray, June 11, 1838. Chil- 

dren: — 
36-46 James F., b. Oct. i, 1839 ; d. Oct. 23, 1878. 

47 Roland G., " Sept. if, 1843; " Apr. 5, 1857. 

48 Mary F., " July 12, 1850; " Oct. 15, 1868. 

28-37 Leonard B. Usher, b. Mar. 3, 1817 ; m.. May 11, 1843, 

Lydia AL Jacobs, who was b. July 24, 1819, and had — 
37-49 George L., b. May 15, 1844; d. Aug. 26, 1844. 

50 Frederic W., " Oct. 5, 1847. 

51 Fannie E., " Nov. 22, 1850. 

52 Leonard B., " Jan. 21, 1852; "Aug. 23, 1852. 

28-38 Henry W. Usher m. Deborah Cook, and had — 

38-53 EllaG. 

54 James L. 

55 Horace H. 

56 Arthur H. 

28-39 Roland G. Usher m. Caroline M. Mudge, June 5, 1844, 
and had — 
39-57 Caroline A., b. Dec. 5, 1847; d. Nov., 1848. 

58 Abbott L., " Aug. 19, 1849; " Nov. 13, 1854, 

59 Edward P., "Nov. 19, 185 1. 

60 Caroline M., " Mar. 28,1855. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 577 

I WADE, JONATHAN, was one of the early settlers at 

Ipswich, where he was freeman, 1634. His second wife 
was Mrs. Dorothy Buckley, whom he m. Dec. 9, 1660; 

and his third wife, Susannah , d. Nov. 29, 1678. He 

had two brothers, Nathaniel and Thomas. He d. Dec, 
1683, leaving — 

1- 2 Jonathan, b. 1637. 

3 Nathaniel. 

4 Thomas. 

5 Prudence, m. \ \f Anthony Crosby. 
^ ' ( 2d, hamuel Rogers. 

6 Susannah, " William Symonds. 

7 Elizabeth, " Elihu Wardwell. 

I- 2 Jonathan Wade, jun., m. Deborah, dau. of Hon. Thos. 

Dudley, who d. Nov. i, 1683, aged 39. He had by her — 

2- 8 Dudley, b. Oct. 18, 1683. 

He m., 2d, Elizabeth , by whom he had : — 

Elizabeth, b. , 1687. 

Dorothy, " Feb. 17, 1689. 
He d. Nov. 24, 1689. 

I- 3 Nathaniel Wade m. Mercy Bradstreet, Oct. 31, 1672, 

and d. Nov. 28, 1707. His widow d. Oct. 5, 1715, aged 
68. His children were : — 

3- 9 Nathaniel, b. July 13, 1673. 

a Simon, ) ^ ^ ^ d. young. 

b. Susanna, ) ^ j-i / ■> j t:> 

10 Mercy, " Sept. 19, 1678; m. John Bradstreet, Oct. 9, 

1698. 

11 Jonathan, " Mar. 5, 1681. 
J2 Samuel, " Dec. 31, 1683. 

13 Anne, " Oct. 7, 1685. 

14 Dorothy, "Mar. 12, 1687 ; m.Jona. Willis, Oct. 17, 1706. 

I- 4 Thomas Wade, of Ipswich, m. Elizabeth Cogswell, 1670, 

and d. Oct. 4, 1696, leaving — 
4-15 Jonathan. 

16 Thomas. 

16^ John, minister at Berwick ; H. C. 1693. 

17 Nathaniel. 

18 William, killed at sea Apr. 3, 1697. 

3-11 Jonathan Wade m. Mary , and had — 

11-19 Mercy, b. Apr. 8, 1704. 
20 Nathan, " Feb. 22, 1706. 

3-12 Samuel Wade m. Lydia Newhall, Oct. 17, 1706. He d. 

Dec. 9, 1738, leaving — 
12-21 Lydia, b. Sept. 10, 1707. 

22 Sarah, " Jan. 18, 1709. 

23 Dorothy, " Feb. 22, 171 1. 

24 Rebecca, " Jan. 28, 1713; m. Z. Poole of Read., Sept. 

18, 1730. 

25 Samuel, '" Apr. 21, 1715. 



578 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

26 Nathaniel, b Feb. 20, 1720. 

27 Simon, " Mar. 28, 1725. 

28 Elizabeth, " May 18, 1729. ' 

28^ Samuel Wade m. , and had — 

28^-29 James, b. June — , I750' 

30 Edward, " June 7, 1 746. 
A dau., m. Mr. Dexter. 

" " " Barker. 

" " «' Weeden. 

Wade m. , and had — 

31 John. 

_28i-29 James Wade m. Mary, dau. of Rev. Edward Upham, of 
Newport, and had by her: — 

29-32 Martha, m. Wm. Brigden of Windsor, Wis. 

33 Nancv B., " John Pickett. 

34 Mary,' " William Bettis. 

35 James. 

36 Samuel. 

37 Theodore L. 

38 Charles H. 

39 Benjamin F. 

40 Edward. 

281^-30 Edward Wade m. Rebecca Harnden, June 10, 1770, and 
had — 

30-41 Edward, b. Mar. 5, 1780. 

42 Fitch, unm. 

43 Henry, " 

44 Rebecca, m. Major John Wade. 

45 Lucy, " Stephen Waitt, of Maiden. 

46 Pamelia, " Daniel Waitt, " '" 

47 Susan, " 1st, Ezra Green ; 2d, Eb. Townsend. 

29-35 JaMES Wade m. Sarah Mulford, and has — 

25-48 Ezekiel M., b. Nov. 14, 1814. 

49 James, " Jan. 28, 1824. 

50 Edward, " Oct. — , 1829. 

29-36 Samuel Wade m. Emily Caldwell, and had — 

36-51 Sidney, d. 1850. 

52 Caroline T., b. July 6, 1822 ; m. Philander Warren. 

53 Gertrude, " Jan. 2, 1825. 

54 Thalia, " Jan. 13, 1833. 

55 Edward, 3d, " Feb. 12, 1838. 

29-37 Theodore L. Wade m. Augusta Bettes, and has — 

37-55^ Ellen, b. July 26, 1836. 

56 Sedgwick M., " Oct. 28, 1838. 

57 Marcia, " Oct. 4, 1840. 

29-38 Charles H. Wade m. Juliet Spear, and has — 

38-58 I5enjamin F., b. May 3, 1832. 

59 Decius S., " Jan. 23, 1S35. 

60 Lucia A., " May 30, 1846. 






HISTORY OF MED FORD. 579 

29-39 Benjamin F. Wade m. Caroline Rosencrans, and had — 

39-61 James Wade, 3d, b. — , 1843. 
62 Henry, " Aug., 1845. 

29-40 Edward Wade m. Sarah Louisa Atkins, and had — 

40-63 William O., b. Sept. 4, 1837. 
64 Sarah F., " Mar. 15, 1840. 

30-41 Edward Wade m. Nancy Hoskins, Oct. 26, 1814, and d. 

Nov. 27, 1836, leaving — 
41-65 Fitch. 

66 Esther, m. Isaac Wetherbee. 

67 Elizabeth, " Daniel Hitchins. 

68 Martha, " Abiel Winship. 

I find, in the church records, a copy of the inscription on the Wade Tomb, with the follow- 
ing remark on it: "The following is copied from a communication of Turell Tufts, Esq. ; there 
is apparently some error in it. — C. Stetson." 

ISIajor Wade's tomb was purchased by the late Ebenezer Hall, and is now in possession of 
his children. The old tablet removed by Mr. Hall was of red sandstone, and contained the 
following inscriptions: — 

"Here lyeth interred the body of Major Jonathan Wade, Esquire, who departed this life 
the 24th of November, anno Dom. 16S9, in the 53d year of his age. 

"Also the body of Dorothy Wade, wife of said Jonathan Wade, Esquire, daughter of Hon- 
ourable Thomas Dudley, Esquire, deceased the ist of November, 1638, in the 40th year of her 
age 

" Also the body of Dudley Wade, son of said Jonathan Wade, Esquire: and 

" Also the body of Dorothy Wade, daughter of the said Jonathan Wade, Esquire. 

" And Elizabeth Wade, his last wife, who was born the 7th of February, 1637, and deceased 
the month of June, 1688." [This last date was 1678.] 

[Here follows the place for two names, illegible.] 

" Here lies interred the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Wade, daughter of the Honourable Jona- 
than Wade, Esquire, and Mrs. Elizabeth, his wife, who departed this life August 19, 1721, 
aged 34 years." 

Prudence Wade m. Thomas Swan of Ro.xbury, Sept. 27, 

1692. 
Abigail Wade m. Rev. Thomas Goss of Boston, Dec. 3, 

1741- 
John Wade m. Elizabeth Poole, Jan. 22, 1766. 
Major Samuel Wade d. Nov. 28, 1707. 
Mercy, wife of same, d. Oct. 5, 171 5, aged 68. 

I WHITMORE, FRANCIS, b. 1625; m. Isabel, dau. of 

Richard Parke of Cambridge, who is believed to have 
been son of Henry Parke, a merchant of London. By 
his first wife, who d. Mar. 31, 1665, he had — 
I- 2 Elizabeth, b. May 2, 1649; m. Daniel Markiiam. 

3 Francis, " Oct. 12, 1650; removed to Middletown, Conn., 

and left heirs. 

4 John, b. Oct. I, 1654. 

5 Samuel b May i, 165S; removed to Le.xington, and left 

heirs. 

6 Abigail, b. July 3, 1660; m. Wilcox. 

7 Sarah, " Mar. 7, 1662; " William Locke. 

He m., 2d, Margaret Harty, Nov. 10, 1666, who d. Mar. 
I, 1686, and had — 

8 Margaret, b. Sept. 9, 1668; m. Thomas Carter. 

9 Frances, " Mar. 3, i67f; '' Jonathan Tompson. 

10 Thomas, " , 1673; lived in Killingiy, Conn., and 

had issue. 

11 Joseph, b. c. 1675 ; lived m Woburn, and had issue. 



58o HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

The earliest mentioned person by the name of Whitmore I have yet met 
with is John of Stamford, who was living in Wethersfield in 1639. He was 
killed by the Indians in 1648, leaving a son, John. I have some reason to 
suspect that he was the father of all of the name here, and that the following 
will give about the record of his children';; births: — 

Thomas, b. 1615; the ancestor of the Wetmores. 

Ann, " (?) 1621 ; m. George Farrar. 

Mary, " (?) 1623; " John Brewer. 

Francis, " 1625; of Cambridge. 

John, " (?) 1627; of Stamford, 1650. 

Francis Whitmore of Cambridge owned lands there, near the Plain; near 
Charles River, by the Boston line; in Charlestown, near Minottamie; near 
Dunbarke's Meadow; and also in Medford and Lexington. His house stood 
on the dividing line between Cambridge and Lexington, and is mentioned in 
the act of division. He served in the Indian Wars, under Major Willard, as 
the treasurers' books witness. His name, with his wife's, stands on a petition 
in favor of an old woman charged with being a witch ; hence he can hardly 
have been of the extreme Puritan party, although a member of the church. 

1- 4"' John Whitmore was one of the early settlers in Medford, 
at least at the period when the records commence. He 
m., 1st, Rachel, dau. of Francis Eliot, and widow of John 
Poulter of Cambridge. His children by her were : — 
4-12 Francis,), ,^„„ o ./--q . 

13 Abigail, } b- ^^y ^' '^78 ; ^,. joh„ Elder. 

14 John, " Aug. 27, 1683. 

He m., 2d, Rebecca Cutter, June 3, 1724, and d. Feb. 
22, 1739. 

Dec. 24, 1680, he, with John Hall, Thomas Willis, Stephen Willis, and 
Stephen Francis, divided the Collins Farm between them; Caleb Hobart 
having previously sold John W. one-fourth of this estate. In addition to this 
land, he owned the house shown on a preceding page, and also land in Bil- 
lerica and Charlestown. He was in service under Major Swayne, against 
the Indians at Saco; and his wife petioned the General Court that her hus- 
band might be restored to her and her three infant children. The fall after 
his return, he was engaged in purchasing lands and building a house. His 
funeral sermon was by Mr. Turell, from Acts xxi. i6. 

4-12 Francis Whitmore m., ist, Anna Pelrce, Dec. 7, 1699, 
and had — 

12-15 Sarah, b. May 4, 1701. 

16 Hannah, " Jan. 22, 1703; d. same year. 

17 Anna, " May 4, 1707. 

18 Eliot, " Mar. 13, 1710; " Mar. 16, 1713. 

19 Rachel, " Apr. i, 1712; m. Eben. Tufts, Feb. 17, 1731. 

20 Mercy, " Mar. 11,1714. 

21 Elizabeth," July 21, 1716; " Thos. Fillebrowne, Mar. 30, 

1732. 

His wife d. Aug. 6, 1716. His second wife, Mary , 

d. Mar. 29, 1760. He d. Feb. 6, 1771. 

He was associated in business with his brother John, and also carried on 
the trade of a tanner; he bought land of Stephen Willis, to be used as a tan- 
yard. He also owned land near Marbey Brook, besides his property in 
Medford. 

4-14 John Whitmore m. Mary Lane, of Bedford, and had — 

-, 1 T 1 „ » ( 1st, J. Weber, Aug. 19, 1725; 

14-22 Mary, b. July 17, 1707; m. -J ^^j'j^ White. ^' ' ^ ' 

„ 1 XT -.0 ^ ist, B. Weber, Sept. 6, 

23 Susanna, b. Nov. 25, 1708; m. | ^^^^ . ^^^ 'p^^^^ 

24 John, " Apr. 15, 171 1. 



I 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 58 1 

25 Francis, b. Oct. 4, 1714. 

26 Martha, " Apr. 22, 1716; "John Skinner, Dec. 22, 1743, 

and d. Mar. 6, 1 780. 

27 William, b. Dec. 19, 1725. 

John d. Mar. 26, 1753. His widow d. Mar. 27, 1783, aged 96. He was at 
first a housewright, but afterwards went into business with his brother. He 
owned much property in Medford; and his oldest son, John, having removed 
to Bedford, he resided there chiefly in his old age, and was so liberal a bene- 
factor to the church as to be mentioned with gratitude on the records. His 
daughters all left issue; and one of them, Susanna, left descendants, now 
living in Lexington, by the name of Chandler, who still preserve some relics 
of their ancestor. The family of Lane, when it emigrated from England, left 
property there, the rents of which were paid to the heirs, John Whitmore's 
descendants included, until within fifty years, when the heirs, being numer- 
ous, sold the estate, and divided it. 

14-24 John Whitmore m. Martha Lane of Bedford, and had — 

24-28 John, b. Oct. 23, 1737; d. Aug. 29, 1743. 

29 William, " Mar. 17, 1739; " Sept. 11, 1743. 

30 Ebenezer, " Jan. i, 1741; " Aug. 24, 1743. 

31 Martha, " Sept. 30, 1742; " Apr. 17, 1730. 

32 Mary, " May 2, 1744. 

33 Lucy, " Nov. 8, 1745; " Feb. 16, 1750. 

34 Susanna, " July 16, 1747; " Mar. 4, 1750. 

35 John, " June 13, 1749; " Feb. 21, 1750. 

He d. Oct. 25, 1748, and his wife removed to Conn. He was a leading 
man in Bedford, being selectman, treasurer, and clerk. The town, during 
his life, sent no representative. 

14-25 Francis Whitmore, jun., m. Mary Hall, Jan. i, 1739, and 
had — 

25-36 Stephen, b. Oct. 21, 1739. 

37 Francis, bap. Aug. 16, 1741. 

38 William, b. Sept. 6, 1746. 

39 Mary, b. Dec. 25, 1750 ; m. Thomas Blodgettof Lexington. 

40 Elizabeth, b. Nov. 27, 1752, " Elisha Seavins. 

41 John, " Nov. 25, 1754. 

42 Susanna, " Sept. 14, 1757; " Thomas Dinsmore. 

43 Andrew, " Oct. 2, 1760. 

Francis W. was engaged in business in Medford; but his too generous 
method of dealing embarrassed his affairs; and having, with Rev. Mr. Stone, 
purchased a township on the Kennebec, he removed thither with his oldest 
son, Stephen. He was engaged in shipping masts lor the royal navy, an 
occupation which gave much offence to the squatters on the crown-lands. 
He d. Apr. 27, 1794; and his wife d. Oct. 20, 1791, aged 79. 

14-27 William Whitmore m. Mary, dau. of Thomas and Mary 
Brooks, Oct. i, 1747, and had — 

26-44 William, b. May 3, 174S; d. Nov. 19, 1775. 

45 John, " May 31, 1750; " July 28, 1750. 

46 Mary, " Oct. 25, 1752; m. Walker of Rindge. 

47 Sarah, " Nov. 7, 1757; d. j. /. 

48 Samuel, " Dec. 15, 1759; " Oct. 22, 1762. 

49 Martha, d. s.p. 

He was a graduate of Harvard College; but bodily weakness prevented 
him from active pursuits, though he was a schoolmaster for a short time. 
The manner of his death was very peculiar; he having died in consequence 
of an illness produced by a dread of the smallpox. He d. Mar. lo, 1760. 
His widow d. Oct. 10, 1765. 



582 HJSTOTiV OF MED FORD. 

25-36 Stephen Whitmokk m. Mary Whittemore, July 14, 1763, 
and had : — 

36-50 IClizabeth C, b. May 16, 1764; m. John Springer. 

51 Stephen, " Sept. 15, 1765; 6.., s. p., 1787. 

54 Francis, " Mar. 19, 1770; " " July 22, 1795. 

55 John, " Nov. 25,1771; still living (1855). 

56 Jonathan Wins, " Aug. 22, 1773; m. Mary Rogers. 

57 Benjamin, "July 12,1775; " Elizabeth Temple. 

58 Mary, " Oct. 26, 1777. 

59 Rhoda, " Feb. 9, 1779. 

60 Sarah, " Oct. 12, 1782. 

61 Andrew, " Sept. 16, 1785; d. Oct. i, 1785. 

He d. Oct. 15, 1816. 

25-37 Fran'CIS VVhitmore, 3d, m. , and had — 

37-62 Elizabeth Sanders, bapt. Oct. 13, 1765; d. Aug. 22, 1777. 

63 Francis, bapt. Aug. 2, 1767 ; d. Aug. 14, 1820. 

He removed to Boston, and with him the name departed from Medford . 
within a year or two one of the name has occasionally resided there; but 
now he also has gone. 

25-41 John WhiTiMore m. Huldah Crooker, Apr. 12, 1781, and 
had — 

41-64 William D., b. Nov. 3,1781. 

65 Mary, "July 19, 17S3 ; d. July 7, 1792. 

66 John, " July 6, 1785. 
dl Huldah R., " Dec. 14, 1787. 

68 Thomas, " Oct. 17, 1789; m. Emma Staples; d., s.p., 

Mar. 25, 1824. 

69 Isaiah C, b. Feb. 2r, 1792. 

70 Gamaliel, " Feb. 8, 1794. 

71 Swan ton, " Feb. 14, 1796. 

72 Creighton, " Mar. 19, 1799. 

73 Angeline, " Nov. 14, 1801 ; m. J. C. Humphreys. 

74 Elizabeth, " July 31,1803; " Levi Gould, and d. 1849. 

75 Almira, " Feb. 14, 1807; " John Lovey. 

25-43 Andrew Whitmore m. Lucy Couillard, and had — 

43-76 James C, b. Jan. 19, 1787. 

T] William H., " Sept. 10, 1788. 

78 Merrill, " Feb. 20, 1792; d., j. /., 1813. 

79 Elizabeth C., " Apr. 18,1794. 

80 Sophia F., " Oct. 9, 1S03. 
8i Louisa, " Oct. 10, 1806. 

36-55 John Whitmore m. Sarah McLellan, and had — 

55-82 Amherst, b. Sept. 18, 1805. 

83 Philena, " May 2, 1807. 

84 John, " Jan. 29, 1809. 

85 Hannah S., " Sept. 16, 1810. 

86 Nathaniel IVL, " Oct. i, 181 2. 

87 Stephen, " May 9, 181 4. 

88 Sarah, " Jan. 9, 181 6. 

89 Chadbourne, " Oct. 4, 1818. 

90 Samuel, " Feb. 15, 1820. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



583 



41-64 

64-91 
92 
93 

94 

41-66 

66-95 
96 
97 
41-69 

69-98 
99 

100 
loi 
102 
103 
104 
105 
106 
107 
108 
109 
no 

64-92 
92-1 1 1 
112 

113 
114 

115 
116 



I- 2 



2- 3 



William D. Whitmore m. Rhoda Woodward, Jan. 20, 

1805, and had — 

Charles, b. Dec. 19, 1805; d. Mar. 24, 1807. 

Charles O., " Nov. 2, 1807. 

Martha, " May 9, 1810; " Nov. 3, 1814. 

Huldah, " Aug. i, 1812; m. W. G. Barrows. 

He d. 1819. 

JOHX Whitmore m. Mary Wheeler, and d. Feb. 30, 181S. 

He had — 
Abigail, b. Jan. 1S13. 

Gilbert D., " Aug. 17, 1S15. 
Mary Anne, " Dec. 1S17. 

Isaiah C. Whitmore m. Elizabeth Ann Culver, and 
had — 

b. June 23, 1823 ; d. Aug. 8, 1848. 

" Dec. 8, 1824; m. Mary E. Curtiss, Oct. 



Mary E., 
Frederic H., 

21, 1848. 
William P., 
Virginia, 
Isaiah C, ) 
Edward, ^ 
Emma, 
Julia Ann., 
Henry, 
Edward C, 
Edwin, 
Azelia, 
Franklin G., 



June 28, 1827. 
Nov. 15, 1828. 

Feb. 21, 1830: -, ,, Tvr o 

' J ' I " jviar. 14, 1830. 

Nov. 14, 1831 ; d. Apr. 9, 1842. 

Feb. 24, 1834; " May i, 1835. 



( d. June 27, 1839. 
I " M 



Nov. 30, 1836. 
June 12, 1840; 
Apr. 5, 1842. 
June 6, 1844. 
Sept. 8, 1846. 



Oct. I, 1841. 



Charles O. Whitmore m. Lovice Ayres, and had — 

Charles J., b. Apr. 27, 1834. 

William H., " Sept. 6, 1836. 

Martha H., " Sept. 5, 1838. 

Anna L., " Sept. 16, 1840. 

Charlotte R., " Mar. 9,1843. 

Creighton, " Dec. 16, 1845; d. Apr. 25, 1848. 

His wife dying Sept. 27, 1849, he m. 2d, Oct. 30, 1851, 
Mary E. Blake, widow of George Blake, jun., of Bos- 
ton, who has by her first husband two daughters. 



WILD, SILAS, of Braintree, was b. Mar. 8, 1736. He 

m., 1st, Ruth Thayer, who d. Dec. 29, 1793, leaving, — 

Sarah. 

Jonathan. 

Paul, ) 1 T /■ 

Silas, [b. Jan. 13, 1762. 

He m., 2d, Sarah Kingman of Weymouth. He d. Sept. 
30, 1S07. 
Silas Wild m., ist, Abigail Wild, who was b. P'eb. 4, 

1 761, and d. Jan. 8, 1803, leaving children, — 
Silas, b. Jan. 23, 1787. 
James T. 
Abijrail. 



584 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

Elizabeth A. 
Mary C. 
Alden. 
Lydia. 

Washington. ) 
Adams. \ 

He m., 2d, Mrs. Deborah (Noyes) Hayden, who d. Sept. 
12, 1845, aged 91. He d. Oct. 12, 1828. 

2- 3 Silas Wild m. Ruth Reed of Braintree, Mar. 19, 181 2, 

who was b. Dec. i, 1785. He had — 
Abigail, b. June 17, 1S14. 

3- 4 Geor2;e W., " Aug. 29, 18 16. 

5 Silas^F., " Aug. 24, 1818. 

Jonathan S., " Apr. 29, 1820; d. Sept. iS, 1820. 
Elizabeth R., " Aug. 14, 1821 ; m. Alfred Odiorne, Apr. I, 

1852. 
Mary P., " Mar. 7, 1823. 

6 Henry M., " Dec. 26, 1825. 

Ellen R., " Oct. 18, 1828; m. Elijah Sampson of Dux- 
bury. 

Ann J., " July 7, 1833. 

He moved to Medford 1832. 

3- 4 George W. Wild m. Elizabeth M. Otis, June 3, 1840, 

who was b. Aug. 31, 18 18, in Exeter, N.H. No issue. 

3- 5 Silas F. Wild m. Lucy D. Smith, Oct. 26, 1843, who was 

b. July II, 1819. Child: — 
Emma Warren, b. Feb. 17, 1845. 

3- 6 Henry M. Wild m. Caroline S. Bean, Oct. 22, 1850, who 

was b. in Durham, Nov. 16, 1822. Child: — 
Henry F., b. June 4, 1853. 



I WILLIS, GEORGE, was freeman. May 2, 1638, then living 

at Cambridge with wife Jane. In a petition to Andros, 
1688, he states his age to be 86, and that he had lived in 
Cambridge near sixty years. He d. 1690, aged c. 90. 
His children were : — 

1- 2 Thomas, b. Dec. 28, 1638. 
3 Stephen, " Oct. 14, 1644. 

I- 2 Thomas Willis m. Grace , who d. Jan. 23, 1716. He 

lived first in Billerica, where he had three or four chil- 
dren. He moved afterwards to Medford. In 1708 he 
conveyed to his son Steplien land and housen by tlie 
Mill Creek, in Boston. He d. Aug. 14, 1725. His chil- 
dren b. in Medford were: — 

2- 4 Elizabeth, b. Oct. 19, 1673. 

5 Jane, " Apr. 9, 1677. 

6 Stephen, " Nov. 16, 1679. 

7 Mary, " Mar. i, 16S2. 

8 William, " July 7, 1685. 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 585 

1- 3 Stephen Willis lived in Braintree ; moved to Medford 

1678, in which year he sold Caleb Hobart of Braintree 

a piece of land in that town. He m. Hannah , who 

d. War. 22, 1732, aged 81. He d. July 29, 17 18. Chil- 
dren were : — 
3- 9 Abigail, b. Oct. 3, 1677; m. Wm. Patten, May 3, 1701. 

10 Thomas, " Sept. 19, 1679; d. May 16, 1731. 

11 John, b. Aug 6, 1681 ; m. Rebecca Tufts, Apr. 17, 1717, 

who d. Aug. 21, 1747, aged 54. He d. Aug. 8, 1755. 

12 Jonathan, b. Feb. 23, 1684; m., ist, Dorothy Wade, Oct. 

17, 1706; 2d, widow Mary Eliot, 1726. He d., s. p., 
Sept., 1749. 

13 Benjamin, b. Oct. 30, 16S6; m. Ruth Bradshaw, Feb. 10, 

1714, who d. Feb. 19, 1752. He d. Feb. 3, 1767. 

14 Hannah, b. 1688; m. Peter Seccomb. 

15 Mary, " July 15, 1690; m. Benj. Parker, Apr. 22, 1714. 

16 Stephen. 

17 Rebecca, m. Thomas Seccomb. 

2- 6 Stephen Willis m. Susanna , and d. Mar. 15, 1718. 

She d. Mar. 12, 1742. His children were : — 

6-iS Susanna, b. Nov. 13, 1699; d. Nov. 8, 1700. 

19 Deborah, " June 27, 1701 , " July 15, 1718. 

20 Eliot, " Aug. 13, 1702; " Jan. 21, 1705. 

21 Patience, " Dec. 26, 1708. 

22 Mary, " Apr. 18, 17 10. 

23 Stephen, " Oct. 22, 171 2. 

24 Jonathan, " Mar. 24, 1714; " Oct. 19, 1714. 

25 Mary, " Jan. 29, 17 16; " May 18, 1736. 

2- 8 William Willis m. Rebecca , who d. Sept. 30, 1754, 

aged 63. He d. Aug. 27, 1754, aged 60, and had — 
8-26 Thomas, b. Aug., 1710; d. young. 

Stephen Willis possibly (6-23) m. Elizabeth Bradshaw, 
Nov. 12, 1 74 1, and had: — 

27 Stephen, b. Aug. 19, 1742. 

28 Hannah, " Nov. 27, 1743. 

29 Elizabeth, " Aug. 29, 1745. 

30 John, " Sept. 17, 1747. 

31 Mercy, " Feb. 7, 1750. 

32 Susanna, " June 21, 1753. 

33 Mary, " Sept. 5, 1756. 

A Captain Stephen Mills, possibly same as above, had 
by wife Mary, son (34) Stephen, b. Nov. 20, 1758. 

35 John Willis, probably a near relative of Thomas (2) and 

Stephen (3), m. Esther, or Hester , and had — 

35-36 John, b. Sept. 5, 1694; d. Oct. 10, 1694. 

37 Andrew," Sept. 30, 1695. 

38 Esther, b. Feb. 16, 1703; m. Nathan Hay ward of Lancas- 

ter, June 20, 1723. 

39 Thomas, b. Mar. 4, 1705. 



586 HISTORY OF MED FORD. 

3-1 1 ? John, possibly same as (3-1 1), and Mary Willis, had dau. 
Mary, d. Feb. 3, 1719, a.ijed 5. 

Mary, wife of John Willis, d. Feb. 12, 1716, aged 27 
years 10 months. 

The foregoing are all that can be found on our Medford records ; but there 
are two branches probably connected, which I desire to record. 

Benjamin Willis m. Ann Gammell of Medford, and was 
probably connected with the Medford branch ; very 
likely as a son of Benjamin (13). He was killed at Louis- 
burg, leaving a son, — 

Benjamin, b. Jan. 10, 1743, who m. Mary Ball of Charles- 
town, Oct. 3, 1766, and had — 

Benjamin, b. Mar. , 1768; father of Hon William 
WilHs of Portland. 

Mary, " Dec. 13, 1774. 

Ann, Aug. 24, 1778. 

Elizabeth B., " June 27, 1782. 

Robert B., " Mar. 15, 1784. 

Hon. William Willis has kindly furnished me with these facts, and is better 
informed on the genealogy of the family than any person now living. His 
antiquarian taste has found this a welcome field for research. 

Charles Willis, in all probability a brother of the fore- 
mentioned Benjamin, m. Anna Ingols, 1727, and had — 
Charles, b. Aug. 21, 1728. 
Anna, " Dec. 29, 1731. 

Charles Willis, jun., m. Abigail Belknap, gr.-dau. of 
Rev. John Bailey of Watertown, and had — 

Charles 

Nathaniel, b. 1760; d, 1832. 

Abigail, m. Isaac Collins. 
Of these.— 

Nathaniel Willis m. Lucy Douglass of New London, 

and had — 
Andrew, d. young. 
Nathaniel, b. June 6, 1780. 
Rebecca, " 1782; m. Samuel Richards. 

He m., 2d, Mary Cartmell, and had : — 
Sarah, m. Judge Easton of La. 

Mary, " McDonald. 

Eliza, " D. R. Ferguson. 

Catharine, " Carpenter. 

Madeline, " Hiram Still. 

James i\L 

Henry C. 

Matilda. 

Julian D., deceased. 

The oldest son, Nathaniel, was the well-known pub- 
lisher in Boston. He m., July 22, 1803, Hannah Par- 
ker, who was b. Jan. 28, 1782, and d. Mar. 21, 1844. 
Their children were, — 



HISTORY OF MED FORD. 



587 



Lucy D., b. May 11, 1804; m. J. F. Bumstead. 

fist, Oct. I, 1835, I\I. 

Nathaniel Parker, the well-known " ^^""^^ '^ ,h°/^ V^-""'- "t^' 

author, b. Jan. 20, 1806 ; i ^^45 ; 2d C. Gnnnell, 

' ■' ' ' Oct. I, 1846, who was 

[b. Mar. 19, 1826. 
Louisa H., b. May ir, 1807. 

Julia D., " Feb. 28, 1809. 

Sarah P. (Fanny Fern) " July 9, 181 1 ; m. Charles H. El- 

dridge. May 4, 1837. 
Mary P., " Nov. 28, 1813 ; " Joseph Jenkins, 

Aug., 183 1. 
Edward P., " July 23, 181 6; d., unm., Mar. 22, 

1853- 
Richard Storrs, " Feb. 10, 1819; m. Jesse Cairnes, 

Sept. 30, 1852. 
Ellen H., " Sept. 23, 1821 ; " C. F. Dennet, 

June 12, 1843, and d. Feb. 5, 1844. 



Jonathan 



WY.MAN, JAMES, of Medford, was b. in Woburn, Sept. 
28, 1726. His father was Joshua Wyman, by his wife 
Mary Pollard. Joshua was fifth son of William Wyman, 
by his wife Prudence Putnam ; was b. Jan. 3, 1693, and 
d. c. 1770. William W. was second son of Francis W. 
of Woburn, who came here at an early date, and m., 2d, 
Abigail Read. William was b. 1656. His father, Francis, 
d. Nov. 28, 1699, aged c. 82. James Wyman of Medford, 
m. Susanna Cutter, Mar. 18, 1756, who d., aged 38, May 
12, 1772. He d. Oct. 26, 1813. Children were, — 

m., 1st, Mehitable ; 2d, 

" Mary Wheeler. 

" Susanna Francis. 

" Joseph M. Sanderson. 

" Abigail Brooks. 

William Tufts. 

Samuel Wakefield, Jan. 2, 1749. 

Ruth Wright, June 4, 1 744. 

Elizabeth'Brooks,May i8, 1787. 

Caleb Brooks, 2d, Nov. 20, 1800. 

Susanna Cutter. 

Ruth Feroll, Mar. 15, 1781. 

Mary Wyman, Nov. 15, 1781, 

Mary Dalton, Nov. 13, 1790. 

Hannah Wheeler, July 7, 1821. 

S( 

Sarah Mansfield. 



I- 


2 


James, 


b. Jan. 21, 1757; 






Marv 


Gill. 




3 


William 


, b. Dec. 7, 1760 ; 




4 


Joshua, 


" Jan. 13, 1765; 




5 


Susanna, " May i, 1767; 




6 


Zaccheus, " Nov. 10, 1769; 


Catharine 


Wyman 


m. 


Elizabeth 


u 


ii. 


Seth 




« 


of Charlestown, " 


James 




« 


of Woburn, " 


Phebe 




(( 


u 


James 




(( 


" 


Joseph 




(( 


(( 


Joseph 




« 


>( 


Joseph 




<( 


(( 


Joseph 




« 


u 


John 


\ 


Vyman m 


. Ruhama Richards 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Academies 298 

Adams, Samuel 144 

Agassiz, Louis 98 

Almshouses 360 

Amicable Fire Society 327 

Andover Turnpike 68 

Andros, Sir Edmund 155 

Angier, John 300 

Anti-slavery movement 357 

Assessors, list of 129 

Auld, Gen. Jacob 60 

Authors, list of ,..,... . 325 

Baker, Rev. A. R 266, 425 

Bakeries 434 

Baldwin apple 32 

Baldwin, Loammi 32 

Balloting, early mode of .... 105 
Ballou, Hosea . . • 269,311,312,318 

Bands 446 

Banfield, Rev. Joseph 269 

Baptist Church 271 

Barnum, P. T 316 

Bartlett, Abner 324 

Battle of Lexington, roll of Med- 
ford company engaged in ... 178 

Bean, James 437 

Bemis, Charles V 224, ^33 

Berkeley, Sir William 281 

Bigelow, Andrew 247 

Bigelow, Timothy 324 

Birds 35> 36, 37 

Bisliop, [ohn 70, 432 

Bishop, Nathaniel H 482 

Blanchard, George 59 

Blanchard, Samuel S. . .187, 1S8, 439 

Board of Health 333 

" Body of Liberties," the .... 106 
Boston & Lowell Railroad .... 71 
Boston & Maine Railroad .... 72 
Boston & Mystic Valley Railroad . 75 

Boynton, Eleazar 333, 335 

Bradbury, Eliza 300 

Bradshaw, John 107 

Bradstreet, Simon 221 

Bricks, manufacturer of 428 



PAGE 

Bridges 76 

Bridges, naming of 89 

Brooks 21 

Brooks, Alex. S 1S3 

Brooks, Charles 287, 44S 

Brooks, Rev. Edward . . . .116,450 

Brooks, Edward 482 

Brooks, Francis 98, 511 

Brooks, Gorham 453 

Brooks, John 132,171 

Brooks, Lieut. John 182 

Brooks, Maria G 479 

Brooks, Peter C. . 66,251,275,339,451 

Brooks, Peter C 2d 453 

Brooks, Phalanx 187 

Brunswick Antimony Co 434 

Burying-Grounds 337 

By-laws 116 

Capen, Rev. Elmer H 313 

Carey, Henry G 295 

Carpet factory 434 

Catliolic Church 278, 279 

Chambers, Col. John G 211 

Charities 319 

Cheese Rock iS 

Chelsea Bridge 89 

Childs, Lydia M 357 

Childs, Nathan 436 

Church records 40 

Civil History 100 

Clark, W. P 434 

Climate 24 

Cobb, Rev. Solon 269 

Coclirane, John, jr 433 

Collectors of taxes, list of . . . . 126 

Collins, Edward 56, 59, 3S5 

Congregational Church, West Med- 

ford 276 

Congregational Church, West Med- 

ford, pastors of 277 

Cotting, Timothy 310,322 

Cotton, Rev. John io6 

Crackers 434 

Cradock, Matthew . 14, 15, 43, 49, 56 

Cradock Bridge 76 

5S9 



590 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Cradock House 60,61,62 

Crimes and punishments .... 349 

Crockford, A. W 437 

Cross-street burying-ground . . . 339 

Cummings, Charles 4S0 

Curtis, James 290, T^^iZt 4^3 

Currency 375 

Cutter, Louisa J 4S0 

Dark Day 502 

Davison, Nicholas 52 

Dean, Oliver 313 

Death record of soldiers during civil 

war 209 

Deer, preservation of 35 

De Long, Rev. Henry C 261 

Destructive insects 37 

Digging for hidden money .... 505 

Diseases, local 347 

Distilleries 430 

Dresser Manufacturing Co. . . . 43S 

Duane, John 437 

Dudley, Thomas 40, 121 

Ecclesiastical History . . . 220 

Education 280 

Enlargement of territory of town . 16 

Epidemics, freedom from .... 22 

Estates, titles to 47 

Expenditures, annual, of town . . 516 

Expenses of town, early . . . . 118 
Expenses of town occasioned by the 

civil war 207 

Field, Rev. Justin 274 

First house erected 248 

Fire-department 327 

Fire Engineers, list of 332 

Fires 245 

First Parish 247 

Fish 37 

Fisheries 414 

Flora of Medford 34 

Florists 437 

Forts 46, 62 

Foster, Joshua T 423, 4S7 

Fountain House 3S8 

Francis, Rev. Converse 434 

Francis, Col. Ebenezer 179 

Francis, John iSo 

Freeholders, list of 489 

Freeman's oath 104 

Frothingham, Richard 120 

Fuller, George 423 

Furness, William H 358 

Game-laws 37 

Gas 437 

Gill, George 433 

Gill, Mrs. George 437 

Gleason, Daniel A 335)336 

Goddard, Thomas A 313 

Goddard, Mary T 316 

Gold-beating 433 

Gov. Brooks's Council 445 



PAGE 

Governors of Massachusetts, list of, 511 

Grace Church 272 

Graduates, college 301 

Gravelly Bridge 86 

Greenwood, Rev. T. J 2*19 

Green, John 42 

Hall, Benjamin . .170, 410, 412, 416, 431 

Hall, Dudley 322, 456 

Hall, Dudley C " • 275 

Hall, Mrs. Dudley 306 

Hall, Ebenezer 434 

Hallowell, Edward N 4S2 

Hallowell, N. P 306,483 

Hancock, John 221 

Harlow, Thomas S 193, 4S6 

Harmony Lodge 443 

Haskins, David G 273 

Hastings, Edmund T 70 

Hathaway, A. K 300 

Hayes, B. F 325)333 

Hemphill, Amos 439 

Hervey, James A 198, 296 

High School 290 

High School, list of teachers . . . 291 

Hill, Thomas 432 

Hills 22 

Hog-reeves 115 

Hogs 31 

Historical and local items . 493 

Hook and Ladder Company . . . 329 

Home Lodge 445 

Home-work during Rebellion . . . 205 

Hooker, Rev. Edward P 269 

Honey-bees 38 

Hosmer, John 299 

Hutchins, Rev. Charles L. ... 274 

Indian burial-place 98,510 

Indians 91 

Intemperance, laws for restriction of, 105 

Irving, George 149 

James, Galen 423,456 

Knapp, Charles 439 

Knights of Honor 445 

Land allotment to settlers .... 44 

Land and land-owners 57 

Land, price of ■t,}, 

Lands held in common 27 

Lapham, Samuel 423 

Lauriat, C. P 433 

Lauriat, Lewis A. 433 

Lawrence, Daniel 477 

Lawrence, Daniel W 1S9 

Lawrence Light Guard, organization 

of \ . . . 1S8 

Lawrence Light Guard, reception of, 

in 1865 196 

Lawrence Light Guard, roll of, in 

1861 iSg 

Lawrence Light Guard, roll of, in 

1862 192 



IXDEX. 



591 



PAGE 

Lawrence, Mrs. S. C 444 

Lawrence, Gen. S. C 

18S, 191, 196, 201, 442 

Lawrence, S. W 440 

Lawrence, William H 191 

Lawyers 325 

Learoyd, Rev. Charles H 274 

Leather manufacturing 433 

Library and Lyceum Association . 307 

Library appropriations 306 

Library committee, members of . . 307 

Lightering 383 

Light Infantry, Old Medford . . . 187 

Litchfield, Parker R 269, 442 

Loring, Judah 476 

Lovers' Rock 23 

Magoun, Thatcher .... 304, 423 

Maiden Bridge %■] 

Manning, Rev. Jacob M 286 

Marshall, John P 312 

Marvin, Rev. E. P 266 

Masonry 442 

McCollom, Rev. James T 267 

Medford and Charlestown Railroad . 74 

Medford a town 120 

Medford Band 446 

Medford, boundaries of 13 

INIedford, settlement of . 13, 40, 48, 152 

Medford Chronicle 440 

Medford Cornet Band 446 

Medford Council, No. 94, R. A. . . 444 
Medford Council, Royal and Select 

Masters 44^ 

Medford House, the 3S8 

Medford Journal 440 

Medford Light Infantry 199 

Medford, location of 13 

Medford Lodge, No. 231, K. of H. . 445 

Medford soldiers, roll of .... 213 

Medford Mercury 440 

Medford militia 1S4 

Medford, name of 13 

Medford (old) Light Infantry ... 185 

Medford Savings Bank 441 

Medford Social Library 302 

Medford Turnpike 67 

Meeting-house, first 391 

Meeting-house, second 394 

Meeting-house, third 400 

Methodist-Episcopal Church . . . 270 
Methodist-Episcopal Church, list of 

pastors of 271 

Middlesex Avenue 90 

Middlesex-avenue Bridge .... 91 

Middlesex Canal 3S2 

Middlesex Fells 48S 

Military History 173 

Militia captains, list of 1S4 

Milk business 32 

Mills 3S4 

Miner, Rev. A. A 312 

Moderators, list of 126 

Mount Hermon Lodge 442 

Morss, A. B 440 



PAGE 

Mount Vernon Lodge 444 

Mystic Brass Band 446 

Mystic Chapter 443 

Mystic Church 268 

Mystic Lodge 445 

Mystic Mount 23 

Mystic Print-works 433 

Mystic River 18,20,21,43 

Nanepashemit 91 

Xason, Rev. Elias 269 

Natural History 33 

Newspapers 440 

Noyes, Rev. James 103, 122 

Oak-Grove Cemetery 341 

Odd Fellowship 443 

Osgood, Rev. David 172, 237 

Osgood, Lucy 323 

Packard, Sylvanus 309,313 

Pastors of First Church, list of . . 264 

Pasture Hill 23 

Pasture Hill gravel 33 

Pauperism 358 

Pepperell, Sir William 149 

Petitions for enlargement of terri- 
tory 16, 109 

Physicians, list of 324 

Pierpont, Rev. John 258, 358 

Political History 155 

Ponds 17 

Population 514 

Port Bill Resolutions 160 

Porter, Rev Aaron 39, 224 

Porter, George W 478 

Porter, Jonathan 324,411 

Postmasters, list of 513 

Post 66, G A. R 444 

Post 66, list of commanders of . . 444 

Pounds 346 

Pratt, Rev. Levi 266 

Printing-offices 440 

Pritchard, Capt. Thomas . . . . iSi 

Public Buildings 391 

Public characters 325 

Public Library 302 

Prison experiences of volunteers . 203 

Rawson, Susanna 298 

Real-estate transactions 58 

Representatives of Medford, list of, 131 
Resolutions on death of Charles 

Sumner 509 

Resolutions on tea question . . . 159 

Revolution, patriotic action taken in, i6t 

Richards, John E 306 

Ripening of fruits and grain ... 29 

Roads 64, 69, 70 

Rock Hill 23 

Rock Hill Tavern 388 

Rose, .Ann 299 

Royall, Isaac . . . .63, 143, 352, 495 

Rumford, Count 32 



f Cp ^ 



^C/((1 



^C 



592 



INDEX. 



/ 



PAGE 

Sagamore, James, John, and George, 91 

Sagamore, John 9I1 92 

Savings Bank 441 

Sawin, Rev. T. P 269 

Sawyer, Rev, T. J 310,315 

School Committee, list of ... . 296 

Schools, drawing in 295 

Schools, evening 295 

Schools, expenses of 296 

Schoolhouses, list of 406 

Scotch-Irish settlers 59 

Scott, Joseph 440 

Seccomb House 63 

Seccomb, Rebecca 319 

Seccomb, Thomas 319 

Second Congregational Society . . 265 

Selectmen, list of 127 

Selectmen, list of, during civil war . 206 

Sewall, Samuel 224,353 

Shade-trees 65 

Shiner, Hannah 9S 

Ship-builders, list of 422 

Ship-building 421 

Simonds, Pamelia 323 

Singing Societies 446 

Sinking-fund 337 

Skinner, Rev. Otis A 311 

Slavery 352 

Slaves, list of 355 

Smith, Horatio A 290 

Societies 442 

Solemn declaration of sentiments . 158 

Spot Pond 17 

Sprague, Isaac 423 

Squa Sachem 96 

Stage-coaches 438 

State constitution of 17-S .... 165 

Stearns, George L 358,459 

Stearns, Luther 299, 460 

Stetson, Rlv. Caleb 253,358 

Stetson, G. W 44° 

Stetson, Jonathan 423 

Stocks and pillory 351 

Stoneham Branch R.R 74 

Stone walls, remarkable ..... 60 

Streams 17 

Streets, list of 66 

Strong, Rev. G. A 274 

Sumptuary law 115 

Supervisor of schools 296 

Symmes, Marshall 98 

Swan, Dr. Daniel 322, 454 

Swan, Hannah 299 

Swan, James G 306, 484 

Taverns 3^7 

'i'axes 363 

Taxes, method of collecting . . . 116 
Tax-payers, early, list of . . .366374 

Taylor, John 423 

Teachers of public schools, list of . 292 

Tebbetts, Rev. Theodore .... 259 

Teel, Elbvidge 432 

Tee), Josiah R 432 

Teel, Samuel 70 



PAGE 

Ten Hill Farm 25, 43 

Theiler, Francis 437 

Tithing-man . . . . . . . .114,118 

Tornado 343 

Town clerks, list of 126 

Towne, Rev. Edward C 261 

Town hall 406 

Town meetings, record of . 112, 114, 118 
Town meeting, mode of warning, 103, 113 

Town records, early 39 

Town's farm 109 

Town treasurers, list of 127 

Trade and Manufactures . . 409 
Trinity Methodist-Episcopal Society, 277 

Tufts, Charles 309 

Tufts College 309 

Tufts, Francis 180 

Tufts Divinity School 315 

Tufts, George F 323 

Tufts, Peter 58, 59, 106, 107 

Tufts, Simon . . . 146, 147, 148, 324 

Tufts, Turrell 302 

Turrell, Rev. Ebenezer . 40, 63, 229, 236 
Turner, Calvin 423 

Universalist Society 269 

Usher, John 449 

Usher, James M 197, 440 

Usher, Roland G 48 5 

Village Improvement Society . . . 447 
Volunteers in various organizations, 202 
Volunteers of Medford, roll of . . 206 

Wade, Jonathan ... 21, 58, 62, 387 

Wagon-building 432 

Walker, William J 313 

Waiting's map 16 

Walnut Hill 23 

Ward, Rev. Nathaniel 106 

Warner, Rev. Aaron 266 

Warner, Rev. Abner B 268 

Warren Lodge, No. 15 445 

War of 1812, Medford's part in . . 1S2 

Washington 141, 170 

Water supply 333 

Wellington, Isaac 70 

Wellington, James 70 

West Indies, trade with .... 20 

White, John T 477 

Whiteficld, Rev. George .... 232 

Wild animals 35 

Willis, Stephen 106 

Wilson, John 14 

Wilson, Rev. George 266 

Winthrop. John 43, 47 

Witchcraft 234 

Withington, Henry 436 

\\'oodbridge, William 298 

Wolves, bounty on 35 

Woman's Christian Temperance 

Union 445 

Woman's Relief Corps 444 

Wright, Rev. Winslow W. ... 269 

Wy man, Joseph 298,438 



